It was a privilege to have Noah in the 2010 Media in Ghana cohort. That was a World Cup year, Ghana advanced to the quarterfinals, and Noah became a huge Black Stars fan like all of us.
It is very difficult to talk about Noah in the past tense because he was so vibrant, observant and gifted. Ghana 2010 was a talented group. Noah was just a sophomore, probably the youngest in the group. Yet he stood out. He had previously traveled to India, a trip that affected him profoundly. He was a deep thinker, sensitive and compassionate, but also outgoing, adventurous and fun loving.
Noah was a driven writer, as indicated in this excerpt from his internship application letter: “My only request regarding my internship placement in Accra is that I have the opportunity to write intensively and extensively. Writing is the skill I want most to improve, so the more practice I can get with it in a professional setting, the better. That said, I am interested in soft-lead magazine journalism more than I am in hard-lead newspaper reporting. Regardless of where I am placed, be it at an NGO, a magazine, a newspaper, or any other medium, I will commit myself wholeheartedly to making the most of it and performing my best. I can hardly wait to begin.”
I placed Noah at the Accra Mail because the then editor Harruna Attah—a highly respected journalist and heroic critic of government during years of media repression—gave his interns great freedom to find their news topics and write opinions. Noah had the talent, personality and initiative for this placement. He wrote numerous columns and stories. The Accra Mail is no longer in production, and Haruna Attah has gone on to be Ghana’s ambassador to Namibia. However, Noah’s words will endure in the archives and contribute to Ghana’s history and the history of the Media in Ghana program. As the Media in Ghana blog was started in 2011, after Noah’s cohort, I am posting two of Noah’s stories, one on plastic waste, and the other a travel story on our field trip to Kumasi: Noah wrote the words and student colleague Courtney Hendricks took the photos.
Plastic Waste- A Monster and Stranger in a Strange Land, Obroni in Kumasi
Noah had a birthday in summer 2010. Because Noah loved music and also was a passionate environmentalist, I gave him a pair of metal musician sculptures (a drummer and a fiddler) made from trash.
Members of his cohort share their thoughts below:
Noah DeWitt was without a doubt the most contagiously happy person I ever met. Everything he said was genuine and thoughtful. I was lucky enough to have spent a lot of time with Noah in Ghana, where we bonded over hip-hop and movies. Once, we bought a bootleg version of Tupac: Resurrection off the street. When we got back to the house, the DVD turned out to be the film City of God, which was convenient because we both loved that movie anyway.
He’d write raps in the back of the bus and recite them to a few of us. Even though he was one of the youngest members, he was a seasoned traveler, and was an example of how to make the most of a trip like the one we were on. He’d dive around crowded shops and resurface with a new food or new headband or something. He seemed to always be on the hunt for keepsakes. We both wanted these Ghanaian basketball jerseys but we could never find them. By the time I had returned to Eugene, he had found a couple, bought me one and held onto it until we met again months later. I still wear it during the summer.
After Ghana I took some time off from school and came back without knowing many people. He let me join him at the Oregon Voice, where he was Editor-in-Chief, no questions asked. He steered that magazine with his irreverence, and he was surrounded by best friends. I can honestly say my time at the Oregon Voice was a lesson in how important it is to have fun in order to do good work, and Noah’s leadership style was integral to that. He would say things like “I’m going to leave this in your very capable hands,” and, when I think back to that, it gives me confidence to this day.
Only wish I had more time with the guy.
-Troy Brynelson
I can say with absolute confidence that everyone who met Noah was blessed by him, in one way or another. I know I certainly was. I’ve never met a nicer person in the world. He could make a friend anywhere, and frequently did.
Going to Ghana was the first real travel experience I had. I had never been out of the United States before that, and sometimes I struggled with it. I had a hard time being so far away from home in a world that seemed so different. On the rough days, Noah was there to cheer me up. He had a radiance about him that was contagious and comforting.
While we may not have stayed in touch very well after our Ghana adventure, it was such a unique experience that I believe created a very special bond within all of us, which we will always share. That bond is what makes this news so heartbreaking for all of us.
I am so thankful that I got to know Noah. He will be deeply, deeply missed.
-Tiffany Focht DeHann
Noah and I socialized quite a bit during and following Ghana, and I’m proud to have been one of his many, many friends.
I think my fondest memory of Noah during the summer was playing soccer on the Volta trip with some local middle-schoolers all afternoon.
I also remember Noah was the only other member of the group who wanted to take a shot of the local akpeteshie with me when we were in the Nzulezo stilt village. It didn’t mix well with our anti-malarials, and we both got a little sick. He was always up for trying new things. Even if he didn’t necessarily enjoy them, he’d never pass up an opportunity.
He turned me on to the squid kebabs at one of the local bars, and I recall we ate a lot of that and goat and beef heart despite your warnings about not eating bush meat (sorry).
Noah was a bright light. With his sense of humor, friendly demeanor and earnestness he became a fixture of every conversation and social gathering.
-Mat Wolf
Noah, where to start? I think of Noah and I remember how much he is grateful. I always loved how grateful Noah was for everyday little things. Those who know Noah would remember that infectious smile. Ever the gentleman, he always radiated compassion. He was always, always curious about people, taking time to listen and engage.
Noah was fond of evening walks in the streets of East Legon in Accra when we were in Ghana in the summer of 2010. I could never forget our love of the fruit vendors in our neighborhood and how their face would glow when they saw him. Everyone knew Noah by name. The kids in the neighborhood, the mobile top-up vendors in the streets, the madam and her boy in the kiosk, they all knew his name.
You will be missed, friend.
-Teddy Workneh
I’ll always remember Noah’s adventurous, sweet, and positive outlook! Although we both had friends in common from growing up in Portland, I really got to know him in Eugene and during our time working and traveling in Ghana. He was a connoisseur of film and food! When we lived in Ghana together he would always suggest films to watch, and he turned me into a true Wes Anderson fan. He was an amazing cook and he could easily whip up meals inspired from Ghanaian dishes or from his travels in India. I also remember that more than anyone else, he would go and eat meals with neighboring families in East Legon near our house. Back in Eugene, he was a joy to work with at the Oregon Voice. He was creative and thoughtful and kind. One thing I could always count on when I saw Noah was that I would get a bear hug! He was an absolute sparkler and he made a positive impact on everyone around him.
We were so lucky to have known him and to have such fond memories of him from our incredible trip!
-Kate Degenhardt
What can I say about Noah Dewitt that hasn’t already, most likely been said? You were one of the most loving, happy, genuine souls to ever cross my path in life. We may not have kept in touch much after graduation, but the love, happiness, and joy you expressed always was contagious. I feel very fortunate to have had the chance to spend so much time with you in the summer of 2010. Spending two months with you in Ghana was eye opening. The faith you had in humanity was overwhelming. You never missed an opportunity to brighten someone’s day. You danced your way through life. On rope bridges hundreds of feet in the air, in the kitchen while we were making dinner, With the children in the neighborhood. You danced always like no one was watching, and you loved unconditionally. It was truly a blessing to have you in my life. You were so accepting of everyone, and whenever someone was feeling down you did your best to cheer them up. Your smile was contagious. May your soul find peace, and may your spirit live on through the people whose lives you changed. You will be missed, Noah.
Here is one of my favorite pictures. It is from the canopy walk. You were making everyone who felt scared laugh by dancing your way across the planks.
-Katelyn Berry
I’ve been trying to capture how I remember Noah–of a moment we shared together or a short story, but I can’t think of a specific instance that does him justice. To say he lit up a room doesn’t quite capture the depth of joy that Noah easily and consistently brought to so many people’s lives. He approached his own life with a unique curiosity and enthusiasm that I haven’t known in anyone else. While studying abroad together in Accra, Noah was the first to try a new food, the first to approach a stranger on the street and spark up a conversation. He was always dancing, introducing us to new music that he loved, or encouraging us to go on spontaneous adventures throughout the city and country. I will miss Noah always, and will never forget what he taught us about mindfully taking notice of all the small, beautiful things that this world has to offer.
-Anna Steeves-Reece
Ghana 2010.
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