Surafel Mulugeta Techane

Surafel Mulugeta Techane, affectionately known as Sasu, was born in Seattle on May 11, 1998, to Abebech Mulugeta and Zebene Techane. From birth, Sasu was an energetic and bright star at home, school, and everywhere he went.

Early Years & Education

Sasu attended St. Joseph School on Capitol Hill for K-8, where as an 8th grader, he earned a featured role in the Passion Play at Easter—among the first hints of his innate musical talent. He moved on to Seattle Preparatory School for high school, where he was involved in student government (all 4 years), varsity tennis, theater, mock trial, and community service, traveling to New Orleans to help build housing for Hurricane Katrina victims. He graduated with honors in 2016.

New York University

Sasu was accepted to New York University's Stern School of Business with a prestigious MLK Scholarship for his high academic achievement. He studied abroad in Florence his sophomore year and quickly picked up conversational Italian. He completed his Bachelor of Science degree in 2020, concentrating in Data Science and Information Systems with a minor in Music.

A Life of Purpose

After graduating, Sasu worked at BNP Paribas in New York as a financial analyst, passing the grueling Series 7, SIE, and Series 63 exams. By day, he appeared to be a traditional junior banker, but Sasu remained dedicated to his entrepreneurial and creative pursuits. He moved back to Seattle to continue developing TeffBar and honing his singing and piano talents, producing and recording song snippets for family and friends.

Surafel is described by all who knew him as a brilliant, funny, and loving person. His energy was infectious and he radiated positivity. His untimely passing leaves every room he graced a little bit dimmer, and he will be deeply missed and remembered forever.