Sept. 10: There is a mural in Columbus, Ohio, near a soup kitchen honouring those that were lost on September 11, 2001.

The mural includes the face of Tyler Ugolyn, Columbia College Class of 2001, with a basketball and his favourite quote: “Yesterday was history, tomorrow is a mystery, and today is a gift from God.”

It took a little over four years before the Ugolyn family could muster the emotional strength to visit the mural. When they did so as a family, they crossed the street to the soup kitchen and saw that the playground there had hoops that were tattered.

At that very moment, they knew what Tyler would like to do if he was still there with them, and that moment gave birth to what would be called the Ugolyn Foundation.

Founded by Tyler’s parents, Victor and Diane, and his younger brother Trevor, the foundation was established in memory of the 23-year-old Columbia graduate who was employed at the World Trade Center as an investment analyst for Fred Alger Management on the 93rd floor of the first tower. Tyler was more than just a NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) athlete recruited to play basketball, though.

He received letters from over 50 schools and was offered the chance to play for national powerhouse Kansas.

When attending Columbia, he helped found a weekly basketball clinic for Harlem youngsters, while also spending time as a volunteer at a soup kitchen. He was a man of strong faith, being very active in the Catholic community at Columbia. He became a Eucharistic minister and helped found the Columbia Catholic Athletes group. Besides being devoted to helping society at large, Tyler also had an impact on several individuals who were close to him.

“I think leaders are born, not made,” Victor, Tyler’s father, said. “He was always a leader in life no matter what he did. He was charismatic, had a wonderful personality, a wonderful smile. One of his close friends said he was the ‘center piece.’ When he walked into a room, everyone paid attention. People followed him.”

One of those who paid attention was Michael Merley, Tyler’s classmate and teammate from the Lions basketball team. He fondly remembers Tyler as a remarkable individual who lived his life to the fullest and inspired those around him.

“In times of death it is a natural response to make the person a superhuman — but Ty really was a remarkable guy,” Merley said. “For me the best way to honour Tyler’s memory is to make sure I realise what carpe diem means to me: seize the day because I don’t know how many I will have.”

The foundation seeks to carry on the various aspects of Tyler’s legacy: his love of the game, his passion for helping youngsters achieve their dreams both on and off the court, and his impact on those around him. The foundation commits itself to supporting youth basketball, with a primary focus on refurbishing courts for and providing financial support to character-building educational programmes and skills clinics for children in urban settings.

The foundation is now officially part of the NCAA Final Four Men’s Championship Community Initiative that takes place during championship weekend. It dedicates a renovated indoor or outdoor court, “Tyler’s Court,” each year to the community where the Final Four championship game is held.

Each of Tyler’s Courts bears a plaque that reads one of Tyler’s sayings: “I just love playing the game.”

Paul Anderer, Columbia’s deBary/class of ’41 professor of Asian Humanities, was one of the faculty members closest to Tyler, and he remembers not only his prowess in the classroom and on the court, but his concern for those around him.

In July 2001, after Tyler had graduated and was about to start his job in the World Trade Center, Anderer, his son Pete — a rising sophomore on the Davidson basketball team — and Tyler found themselves on the same team in a Levien pick-up game.

Anderer remembers how Tyler grabbed a defensive rebound and in a single graceful motion made a perfect outlet pass to Pete, streaking towards their basket.

However, it was something that happened soon after that really made the occasion memorable for the professor.

“He (Tyler) and I watched, aghast, as Pete was dragged down from behind by a careless and brutal foul,” Anderer said in an email. Anderer realised what was at stake as Pete lay on the ground, having sustained a serious knee injury, and was furious.

But it was Tyler who ran out ahead of him, in defence of his teammate and friend. “Tyler said things that I am sure stayed with the guy who committed that foul,” Anderer said. “I believe he never fouled anyone quite like that again. A month later, Tyler himself was dragged down, deliberately and tragically. We could do nothing to pick him up, but can only recall, with affection and gratitude, the wide smile, strong presence, and sense of honour Tyler shared with us in life.”

(Mrinal Mohanka is a fourth-year student and Spencer Gyory a third-year student at Columbia University, New York)