12/26/2004
In Sri Lanka, interior designer Nate Berkus is among the survivors of the tsunami caused by the recent massive earthquake.
Posted 10:36 PM EST by Andy Towle in Elsewhere | Permalink
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I saw some footage of the devastation on the news today. Such an awful tragedy. Hopefully his "friend" is alright.
Posted by: Kevin | Dec 26, 2004 11:32:38 PM
Ohh, Nate is HOT! I wonder if the friend is his SO? I hope the "friend" is OK as well.
Posted by: Scott | Dec 26, 2004 11:45:00 PM
Oh my gosh. I am glad that Nate survived the tsunami. It's so sad that his friend is missing. Just an awful tragedy.
Posted by: Layne | Dec 27, 2004 12:00:20 AM
It was interesting to see that article on cnn.com. I have all those families and people in my thoughts, as well as Nate. I only knew of him because I caught the episode of Oprah where he redid Paige Davis' home.
The weather this year is crazy... Dangerous.
Posted by: Rob | Dec 27, 2004 12:50:37 AM
Here is a photo of Nate Berkus' "friend" who was swept away by the tsunami and is now missing:
http://www.beateworks.com/featphotogr.html
Associated Press
Hopkins High School graduate and interior designer Nate Berkus survived
the Asian tsunami by hanging onto a telephone pole, but he was still
awaiting rescue on Sunday night.
A second wave tore him away from the pole. His friend, photographer
Fernando Bengoechea, was torn away from the same pole, and Berkus said
he hasn't heard from him since.
Berkus was part of a group of about 50 survivors awaiting rescue in a
Sri Lankan bay.
An earthquake on Sunday morning caused a tsunami wave crashed onto
beaches in eight Asian countries across thousands of miles, smashing
seaside resorts and villages. The death toll stood at 13,340 on Sunday
night, including thousands in Sri Lanka, where Berkus was.
Berkus, who now runs a Chicago-based interior design service, was part
of a group of survivors who were trying to conserve battery on their
few cell phones. But he called his mother on Sunday morning, KARE-TV
reported. This was the message that greeted her on her answering
machine:
"Mother it's Nate. Listen to me very carefully, OK? There's been a
horrible natural disaster in Sri Lanka. I am fine."
"I just want you to know that I am fine and that I will call when I
have an opportunity."
Posted by: Stosine | Dec 27, 2004 12:50:29 PM
I hope his friend turns up safe and sound.
Posted by: Glenn | Dec 27, 2004 1:04:25 PM
The story reads a little oddly. "Thousands die; gay designer on Oprah survives."
Posted by: Nick | Dec 27, 2004 7:05:46 PM
Over 22,000 people die and most of you just bother to post about one hot white guy who survived? What about all the ugly poor Asians who are dead?
Posted by: amy | Dec 27, 2004 7:54:27 PM
They played a phone conversation with Nate Berkus this afternoon on ABC News. It was quite sad. He described how he and his partner Fernando were clinging to a telephone poll and he had to watch Fernando get swept away. They did ntoe that they were partners btw. I can't imagine the horror.
Posted by: myke | Dec 27, 2004 7:55:07 PM
Amy, I think everyone realizes the scope of this tragedy is not limited to one gay man. However, for many people he puts a face on this event, and just happens to be white and gay. The fact that this is a gay-oriented blog makes discussion of Nate Berkus an appropriate topic. It does not devalue the thousands of other lives that have been lost in this natural disaster. However, to come in and attack others who choose to discuss Nate is unreasonably aggressive and incredibly self-righteous.
Posted by: andy | Dec 27, 2004 8:19:38 PM
Has there been definite news about what happened to Fernando, or is he still MIA?
Posted by: Glenn | Dec 28, 2004 6:28:18 AM
As someone above has already pointed out, ABC NEWS is identifying Fernando Bengoechea as Nake Berkus' partner. Last night on ABC WORLD NEWS TONIGHT, Elizabeth Vargas (substituting for Peter Jennings) introduced a story about Berkus by saying this:
"Disasters often bring stories of survival. Nate Berkus is an interior designer who made a name for himself appearing on a television show in the United States. He and his parter Fernando Bengoechea were asleep in a beachfront hut in Sri Lanka when the tsunami hit. Here is his story in the first person."
(Nate tells his story via telephone while stock footage of the disaster is shown)
Then Elizabeth comes back and says to the camera "Mr. Berkus's partner is reportedly still missing."
Then she moved on to the next story.
Posted by: Stosine | Dec 28, 2004 7:51:02 AM
As someone above has already pointed out, ABC NEWS is identifying Fernando Bengoechea as Nate Berkus' partner. Last night on ABC WORLD NEWS TONIGHT, Elizabeth Vargas (substituting for Peter Jennings) introduced a story about Berkus by saying this:
"Disasters often bring stories of survival. Nate Berkus is an interior designer who made a name for himself appearing on a television show in the United States. He and his parter Fernando Bengoechea were asleep in a beachfront hut in Sri Lanka when the tsunami hit. Here is his story in the first person."
(Nate tells his story via telephone while stock footage of the disaster is shown)
Then Elizabeth comes back and says to the camera "Mr. Berkus's partner is reportedly still missing."
Then she moved on to the next story.
Posted by: Stosine | Dec 28, 2004 7:51:27 AM
Amy wrote:
>> Over 22,000 people die and most of you just bother to post about one hot white guy who survived? What about all the ugly poor Asians who are dead? <<
"Ugly poor Asians"? At the risk of feeding a troll, I must say that the only ugliness here is your comment.
For one thing, this is a gay site. Also, we are capable of following multiple news stories at once and caring about the wider picture in addition to a specific disaster story about a peronality some of us know from television. It's not one OR the other - we can do both. Just what comments do you expect us to post here? Cliches about how horrible this disaster has been? That's a given. We all know that. Do we have to say it in every post to satisfy you, Amy?
Posted by: Alan | Dec 28, 2004 9:45:08 AM
I don't think it's only about some cute guy (even if he is) but the fact that he survived this tragedy will certainly help to raise money once back to the US due to his television fame ...
Posted by: Steph & Alek | Dec 28, 2004 12:45:00 PM
In the Sri Lankan community here in NYC, people are mourning lost members of their community. They don't discount the Indonesian and Thai victims, but their first thought is of their own. Travellers on the Towleroad are, largely, gay men. When the media puts a gay, male face on the tragedy, we respond with a sense of connection; this really doesn't make us bad people.
I'm sure Amy would feel a similar poignancy if she were told that a group of strident, preachy, self-righteious homophobes was lost.
Posted by: Zach | Dec 28, 2004 12:54:55 PM
Wow, Amy, harsh!
Posted by: cafegogo | Dec 28, 2004 3:44:30 PM
Amy (and Nick) reminded us that 22,000 other people (now 70,000) are dead. Is that "harsh?" "strident?" "self-rightous?" "HOMOPHOBIC?" "unreasonably aggressive?" "incredibly self-righteous?"
Yes, this is a gay oriented blog and discussion of Nate is to be expected. And I don't think it was appropriate to refer to the Asian victims as ugly or poor (although that description does not even seem to be what upset people). But why are you guys so HOSTILE toward someone who had a different reaction to the posting. Is there only one acceptable response here? Maybe you feel that discussing one gay survivor is perfectly fine but that doesn't mean those of us think that's a wee bit shallow are homophobes. Jeez.
Posted by: Tom | Dec 29, 2004 6:15:26 AM
Hey Tom, I have no idea if Amy is homophobic or not. I'd guess not, if she's reading this site. And I'll also grant that she may have used the word "ugly" as a sarcastic way to make her point. But still, why criticize people for being concerned about a guy we know from TV who was caught up in the disaster? And why accuse us of being shallow for caring about him? Just because we are interested in his story does not mean we don't care about everyone else. The death toll is now over 60,000 and may top 100,000. This is probably the greatest natural disaster we'll see in our lifetimes. I watch the news reports and I've donated a modest amount to the Red Cross. I care about everyone involved. I don't just care about gay white males. But since I am a gay white male and since I "know" Nate from Oprah's show, I am intersted to know about him and his photographer friend. I care how Nate is doing and if his friend is o.k. What's wrong with that?
Posted by: Lonnie | Dec 29, 2004 8:17:09 AM
When the world experiences a tragedy, like this tsunami, it is just natural for those of us that care and are not personally affected by the devastation, to try and find some connection to be able to relate. As a gay man I am not any less concerned about the native Asians that lost their family, friends, posessions and lives but I cannot put a face to them. If I had a friend or family member that was lost, they would be my point of connection to grief and destruction that has taken place, but since I do not, I am able to connect to the others by someone that I at least know and can relate to on television. This does not make me less caring, but rather, someone who wants to put face to my grief. It is unfortunate when people feel the need to slag another persons motives when they do not know what they feel or understand.
Posted by: Josh | Dec 29, 2004 9:18:16 AM
According to this article from today's (Dec. 28) New York Post, Nate Berkus is making his way toward the U.S. Embassy in Sri Lanka to try to come home. His partner has still not been found. It says he was able to call back to the states to ABC and Oprah staffers because someone found a cell phone and hooked it up to a car battery. An Oprah spokesman wouldn't say if a future Oprah show will feature Berkus talking about his ordeal (but I personally think that's likely, don't you?)
ttp://www.nypost.com/entertainment/37293.htm
Posted by: Stosine | Dec 29, 2004 10:19:47 AM
"Oprah Winfrey's favorite designer was rescued from the roof of a flooded building in Sri Lanka yesterday - but he feared his fashion photographer pal may be lost. Interior designer Nate Berkus, a regular on Winfrey's show, was vacationing with Fernando Bengoechea, his live-in companion in New York, when the giant wave struck.
Berkus described to "Good Morning America" yesterday how they were swept out of their island bungalow by the torrent of water, but grabbed onto a telephone pole.
When a second wave smashed into them, "both of us were wrenched away from the pole. I couldn't find Fernando. I was yelling his name."
"My hope is Fernando is okay, that he's just on another part of the island that we have no communication with right now," Berkus added.
As Berkus clung to his hopes, others across Asia were battered by grief"
Posted by: Kathy | Dec 29, 2004 1:32:32 PM
"The number of Americans dead stood at eight, including a well-known fashion photographer, Fernando Bengoechea." New York Times
Posted by: Kathy | Dec 29, 2004 1:33:59 PM
I am deeply saddened about the loss of Fernando Bengoechea. Upon hearing his name after the disaster, I looked at photos on his website, and recognized some of them as stunning shots that I had seen and LOVED in years past. What a talent he was!
Posted by: Vicki | Dec 29, 2004 2:39:59 PM
Info on Nate's partner Fernando Bengochea, I really hope he is found alive!
One cannot help but surrender to the charm of this extraordinary and talented photographer: rising star Fernando Bengoechea. His images of Donna Karan and Naomi Campbell, amongst many others on our site, have been catching the interest of publications all over the world.
Bengoechea was born in Buenos Aires and grew up mostly in Brazil. Fluent in five languages and well-traveled, he arrived in New York to study cinematography and photography. Within only a few years he had an exciting career path laid out in front of him.
Fernando travels the world capturing life with vivid images of interiors, celebrities and destinations. His finds the essence of the person and the surroundings, blending both seamlessly into each other. Fernando is always on the move, working on new editorial and commercial assignments.
When not on the road on assignment, Fernando is passionately creating new concepts for his fine art photography. Many photographers shoot black and white images but Fernando takes it a step further by cutting the prints into strips and then weaving them back together. The finished product is a work of art within a work of art. His ‘woven’ photos have been shown in galleries all over the world. Elle Décor and Ralph Pucci hosted Fernando’s most recent exhibition, Karma Trees, this past April.
A brief list of Fernando’s clients includes: Reef, Elle Decor, House & Garden, Town & Country, Harper's Bazaar, Vanity Fair, House Beautiful, Talbots, Flair, Four Seasons, Elle, Oprah, K-Mart, M.S.L., J-Crew, Garnet Hill, Vix, In Style, German A.D., Vogue, German Vogue, French Vogue, L.A. Times, N.Y. Times, NY Magazine, Worth, Figaro, and Douglas Elliman.
Posted by: BETTY | Dec 29, 2004 3:26:12 PM