Honoring the Life and Legacy of David Emerald

TED* Team · April 22, 2025

A Message from Donna Zajonc

It is with a full heart and deep sadness that I share the sudden passing of David Emerald Womeldorff, beloved friend, teacher, partner, and the creator of TED* (*The Empowerment Dynamic). David died peacefully of a heart attack at his home on April 16. He was resting in his favorite chair, calm, and at peace.

David’s life work was TED*—his “child,” as he called it. Unable to have children of his own, he poured his whole heart into nurturing this framework, hoping it would serve and inspire seven generations to come. One of his many gifts was his ability to name deep and complex human truths in simple, powerful ways that others could understand and live by.

In the last few weeks of his life, David often reflected on how fulfilled he felt—grateful for the people he had loved, the work he had done, and the contribution he had made to the world.

David and I shared 22 years together—17 of them as a married couple—and for all of those years, we were business partners bringing TED* to life. Our personal and professional journeys were deeply intertwined, and I feel incredibly grateful to have walked beside him through it all.

Born in Springfield, Ohio, and a graduate of Wright State University, he moved to the Pacific Northwest in 2003, where he found both home and community.

Early on, David imagined himself as a high school history teacher, but he eventually earned a master’s degree in behavioral science and discovered a calling in organizational psychology. His early work helped pioneer new ways to transform reactive behavior in teams and workplaces.

When David began writing, he adopted a pen name, believing that his surname, Womeldorff, might not resonate well with readers. In one of his journal entries, written as he prepared to move to the Seattle area, which is known as the Emerald City, he reflected: “Like Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, my Emerald City beckons.” Inspired by that sense of adventure and new beginning, he chose “Emerald” as his pen name.

I’d like to share a story I rarely talk publicly about; how TED* was born.

In August of 2003, not long after we started dating, David called me from South Bend airport. He had just finished a series of coaching sessions at the University of Notre Dame, something he did with great joy for nearly 20 years. He told me that during one session, he shared the Drama Triangle with a client and then, spontaneously, he went to the white board and drew a new triangle—a more positive one, rooted in our human goodness rather than our reactive patterns.“Is that original work?” I asked over the phone.“Oh no,” he said. “I’ve known about the Drama Triangle for years.”“No,” I said, “I’m aware of the Drama Triangle too. I mean the new triangle you came up with.”He paused. “It just came out of me in the moment. I’ve been thinking about it for a while.”I told him to write it down and that when he got home, we would talk more about it. We took long walks and contemplated its meaning. At one point I asked him, “What does this new triangle mean to you?”He replied, “It’s about empowerment—personal empowerment. It’s about the best in us as human beings. And it’s dynamic, always evolving. That’s it... I’ll call it The Empowerment Dynamic.”During a morning meditation about a week later he suddenly opened his eyes and said with a spark, “It’s got a name! It’s TED*!”From that sacred epiphany, TED* was born—and it has gone on to change thousands of lives around the world. I loved that he often referred to me as “TED*’s mom.”In the spirit of his love for learning and his desire to reach more people, we are establishing the David Emerald Womeldorff Memorial Scholarship Fund. This fund will support youth and emerging leaders in accessing TED* workshops and training, so that David’s work can continue to touch lives for years to come.

I will continue to write this blog as I have every week for over a dozen years. Now I will write more personally than ever about the unfolding story and application of TED*. David’s work will live on through the Center for the Empowerment Dynamic and the thousands of people influenced by this work.

David’s message remains clear and strong in my heart:“Here’s to the Creator in YOU.”With love and gratitude,Donna— If you would like to honor David with a contribution to his new scholarship fund you may do so here. We will hold your name, or organization, as a founding contribution to the fund.— We have also created a Kudo board to share your sentiments and if you have pictures of David, you may read comments and share them here.