Twenty Years After Infamy Struck 9/11: A Reflection
By Hank Nuwer
“Stay the hell out of New York.”
The message blipped onto my laptop screen, sent by a journalist friend who was suddenly covering the biggest story of his life. If words on a screen could be heard, these would have been shouted.
Life had been tranquil earlier, ordinary. Just two hours into Sept. 11, the day had already proved a long one. I had just concluded an interview with a source for a future book, now long published, and at about 2 a.m., began driving to my friend Ken’s house who lived right off an interstate highway leading to Manhattan.
He was sparing me the cost of a hotel room in New York.
Once arrived, I slept for three hours, awaking to a shower and looking forward to a trip into the city for a cable television interview based on an alcohol-related death at Indiana University. I grabbed my suitcase and laptop. I patted my friend’s dog, Aspen, goodbye. Then the phone rang.
It was Michael, a relative of my friend. He asked if I’d heard that a plane crashed into the World Trade Center. My friend is a pilot and Michael had called hoping to reach him.
“I’m headed into New York,” I said. “I’m leaving now.”
“I wouldn’t go,” Michael replied. “Turn on your TV.”
I hung up and turned on the television just as the second plane hit. Normally Aspen is a quiet dog, but the sounds I made when witnessing the towers in flames scared her and she began to yap insanely.
I called the cable network with whom I had the interview. The producer’s voice mail picked up. I sent an email to the producer and then one to a friend, a reporter at ABC. My friend responded with such brevity, I thought the email had misfired. He said only, “Stay the hell out of New York.”
He had seen those in the World Trade Center jumping from their office windows. He had viewed the footage brought in. He had seen the photos that most us have been spared from witnessing.
Still thinking the interview might occur, I gathered my things and headed out to the bus station for the commute to New York for the TV taping. It was then an adult nephew of my host came into the house saying, “You can’t get into the city. All the tunnels and bridges are closed.”
I called my mother to tell her I was safe. In her eighties, she was confused by my call. I told her to turn on her television and hung up.
I felt helpless upon my return to the Midwest. I wanted to do something, anything. It was later when I remembered my reporter friend and the photos he had seen. It was there I found inspiration. I created a Web site to honor the victims, those who died in the World Trade Center, in the Pentagon and in Pennsylvania. I wanted to show them alive and vibrant, as they were the moment before the flames took their precious lives.
Because I often write on fraternity affairs, I thought the simple site could best honor the fraternity and sorority members lost in the attacks. Day after day, month after month, I added victim after victim. I taught computer-assisted journalism for Indiana University at the time as an adjunct, and the skills helped me find dozens of names. And once I launched the site, I heard from national greek groups, schools, ordinary greeks — each with a new name to add.
Soon, I had a long list of names together with scholarship sites set up to help the children of victims.
To all those hundreds who helped me put up a site online 20 years ago, thank you.
I have some definite thoughts about the 9/11 attack as I write in 2021.
First, the pilot friend who put me up is dead. Always proud of his vision, Ken Oppenheim died not long ago from complications related to melanoma of one eye.
The cable TV show producer rescheduled in one week and I drove into the city in a pickup. Every few blocks, police waved me over to search the vehicle. Tensions were high. But I recall the cordiality of the police officers, the TV production crew, and the staff at a low-budget hotel where I stayed.
Americans everywhere were coming together as one nation united. We mourned and mourned but were proud to know that there were brave, unselfish heroes among us—the First Responders.
My return to New York City for the cable taping coincided with major league baseball resuming after a game stoppage. I watched the Mets-Braves game in my hotel room. It seemed that every fan in the stands held an American flag, every player wore either a New York police or fire department ballcap.
I recall being choked with tears. If you didn’t feel emotion during the national anthem, you lacked a pulse.
It seemed like every member of both teams came out to give one another heartfelt hugs.
This was a time to rejoice in being an American.
Our nation took some really questionable actions after 9/11. History teaches us that. The venerable New York Times bears some responsibility. The flawed reporting of Judith miller regarding Iraq’s supposed weapons of mass destruction led us down the rabbit hole into Iraq and Afghanistan.
It cost us trillions of dollars and, worse, the lives of so many proud soldiers who died, not to mention the psychic wounds and missing limbs of so many fine men and women.
The Taliban is back in power in Afghanistan. My heart goes out to all Afghan women, Afghan partners to the USA, and all Americans and green-card holders stuck there.
My wife happens to be in Poland today. She’s headed to a New York airport en route to our home on the Stateline border.
I pray that the despicable terrorists have no plans to stage some sort of terroristic uprising to commemorate the 20-year anniversary.
I pray that we can come together as Americans, defeat the deadly pandemic, and put aside our personal differences for the greater good of our nation. We did it that unforgettable New York-Atlanta game.
My flag flies from my house, as it always has and always will. .
“Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave; O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!”
To each victim, the families of the victims, and our cherished troops over the last 20 years, we will never forget you.
__________________
The Honored List of Dead follows:
Greek Memorial Tracking Site for Victims of 9/11:
All these deaths and those injuries of all the maimed victims diminish us and sadden us. Our prayers and thanks are with the rescue workers who tried to save them–some at the cost of their own lives.
The intent is that this page will inspire Greek efforts to raise funds for families of the victims. [Send any checks directly to the various foundations. This site accepts NO donations for 9/11 dispersals–thanks. HN]
Rest in peace;
Alpha Epsilon Pi
Frank Morton, Syracuse ’92, a computer analyst for Cantor Fitzgerald.
Steven Goldstein, University of Michigan ’88, who worked at Cantor Fitzgerald.
He leaves a wife and two children, then ages 3 and 1.
A scholarship fund has been established by AEPi on behalf of the children.
Mr Goldstein
Randolph-Macon College Student Activities reports the sad loss of Barry Glick, a 1968 Alpha Epsilon Pi alumnus and husband of Judith.
He was manager of Risk Management for Port Authority of New York.
Beta Theta Pi
John Perconti, Rutgers ’92
He worked for Cantor Fitzgerald on the 104th
floor, and was married (his wife was 6 months pregnant).
Lt. Colonel Karl W. Teepe, Illinois ’66
He worked in the Pentagon
and died as a result of the terrorist crash.
Todd Weaver, Miami of Ohio Beta Theta Pi member, died in Tower 2 South in NYC.
Chi Psi
Mike Tanner, former Cornell quarterback , age 44. WTC victim.Delta Sigma Phi
Delta Delta Delta
Alysia Burton Basmajian, William & Mary, 2000, World Trade Center;
Info from the Richmond Times-Dispatch
Mrs. Basmajian was born in
Longview, Wash., but spent the majority of her life in Richmond, Va. Over the
past year Alysia lived in Bayonne, N.J. with her daughter, Kaela Grayce, age 2;
and her husband, Anthony Basmajian. Alysia was a beautiful, loving,
devoted, compassionate mother and wife, whose caring spirit and warm smile made
everyone around her happy…
Memorial contributions for a relief fund to assist
the family may be sent to St. Christopher’s School, 711 St. Christopher’s Rd.,
Richmond, Va., 23226, payable to Anthony Z. Basmajian.
Kirsten Thompson Christophe, Michigan State alum,
a legal expert employed at the World Trade Center.
Ann Campana Judge,
Ohio Wesleyan, passenger on American
Airlines Flight 77 which was used to bomb the Pentagon.
Jeannine Damiani Jones , Villanova, employed at the World Trade Center
Mary Lou Hague , North Carolina,
employed at the World Trade Center
Everyone’s thoughts and prayers
go to Delta Delta Delta alumna Stacy Sopper , Jacksonville,
whose sister, Mari-Rae Sopper, was a passenger on Flight 77.
Sympathy wishes to Kim Berry,
Delta Delta Delta collegian at Bucknell, whose father was employed at the World Trade Center
Bonnie Shihadeh Smithwick , Class of ’68, Delta Delta Delta.
Vice president for Fred Alger & Co., Inc., in 1 World Trade Center.
She is survived by her husband, James, and two children, James, and Katherine.
Delta Sigma Phi
Brother Bart Ruggiere died in the September 11
attacks in New York City. Ruggiere was very active as an undergraduate
member of the Epsilon Beta chapter at the University of Wisconsin- Oshkosh.
He served as chapter president for the 1989-90 school year.
(Thanks to Bruce Hammond for heads-up)
Delta Sigma Pi
MARNI PONT-O’DOHERTY, New York University, WTC victim
Sandra Teague , a 1991 Iota Omega initiate
at North Carolina – Greensboro,
was killed when her plane
hit the Pentagon. At 31, she was
a physical therapist at
Georgetown University Medical Center.
The Sandra Teague Memorial Fund
Georgetown University Medical Center
3800 Reservoir Road, N.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20007-2187; also, the Sandra Teague Memorial Fund
at University of Osteopathic Medicine and Health Sciences
3200 Grand Ave., Des Moines, IA 50312-4198
Delta Sigma Pi Amy Toyen
was a 1995 Lambda
Tau initiate and 1999 graduate of Bentley.
Amy, age 24, was
on the 106th floor of the World Trade Center when tragedy struck.
She worked for Thompson Financial in Boston.
A scholarship fund in memory of Amy
has been created at Bentley College
175 Forest Street, Waltham, MA 02452, Attn: Barbara McCarthy).
Delta Sigma Theta
Soror LTC Karen Wagner, US Army , who worked at the Pentagon, was killed during the terrorist attacks.
Sgt. Maj. Lacey B. Ivory , the husband of Soror Deborah
Ivory ,
also a Lieutenant Colonel,
was also killed in the attack on
the Pentagon. Remember Soror
Ivory and her family in your prayers.
Also lost is Jeffrey Dingle , the
husband of Soror Nichole Brathwaite-Dingle .
World Trade Center. She has two children.
Delta Upsilon
Aaron Jeremy Jacobs , Colgate ’96, in the World Trade Center tragedy.
He was a European equity trader at Cantor Fitzgerald. Survivors include his parents and his fiancée.
Greek affiliation unknown: Kaleen Pezzuti , sorority member, Cornell University.
Loved traveling by hostel in Europe with her sorority sisters.
A Cantor Fitzgerald employee, Kaleen Pezzuti was in love
with fellow worker Matthew Grzymalski . This quotation comes
from a daily paper: “We are certainly hoping they were holding hands
or hugging or wrapped in each other’s arms somehow,” said Mr. Grzymalski’s sister, Patti Ann Valerio. Brother in law Todd Pelino also perished in WTC. Our prayers are with this devastated family.
Kappa Delta Rho
Bradley Fetchet, an equities trader at Keefe, Bruyette and Woods,
was a Greek brother of Kappa Delta Rho and a hockey and lacrosse
player at Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pa.
To honor his memory, the family has established a scholarship fund. Donations
can be sent to: Bradley J. Fetchet Memorial Foundation
c/o Frank Fetchet,
49 Sunset Hill Rd., New Canaan, Conn. 06840.
Mark McGinley, Bucknell KDR,
He loved golf.
Kappa Delta and Delta Sigma Pi
Kelly Booms was a 1996 Alpha Upsilon
initiate and 1999 graduate of Miami (Ohio).
She died at 24 when
her plane struck the World Trade Center. See Kappa Delta in previous entry for Ms. Kelly Booms, a member of both organizations.
The Kelly Booms Memorial
Scholarship has been established
at Miami University
(Alumni Center, 725 E. Chestnut, Oxford, OH 45056). See also Delta Sigma Pi.
Phi Kappa Psi
Douglas M. Cherry, Ohio Wesleyan ’82.
Doug was Vice President of the Professional Services Group of AON
Corporations. He worked on the 101st floor of one of the WTC buildings.
Doug’s associates at AON have started a fund for his children:
Cherry Children’s Fund
P.O. Box 222
Maplewood, NJ 07040
Michael “Desi” McCarthy, Buffalo ‘ 87
Was employed as a trader for Carr Futures on the 92nd Floor of the North
Tower when American Airlines Flight 11 slammed into the building, setting it
ablaze. The McCarthy Family has established the Mike McCarthy Memorial
Foundation in Mike’s memory. Donations to his foundation may be made to:
Mike McCarthy Memorial Foundation
P.O. Box 80
Huntington, NY 11743
Sigma Chi
Stephen LaMantia, Roanoke 1985, Cantor Fitzgerald employee,
WTC. He was a former Consul;
Husband to Kim, the chapter’s 1986 Chapter Sweetheart;
and father to Emily, 9, and Steven, 6. Memorial donations:
The Stephen LaMantia Children’s Education Fund
c/o James P. Hughes Merrill Lynch
200 Park Avenue 13th Floor
New York, NY 10166
Keith Eugene Coleman, Bucknell ’90, Warren, N.J. He worked
for Cantor-Fitzgerald in WTC. Sigma Chi. In addition
to wife Elodie, he has a son, Vaughn, and a daughter, Neva.
Sadly, Keith’s brother Scott, Colgate Class of 1994, also perished on 9/11.
Todd Douglas Pelino ’89 , WTC. Sigma Chi, soccer player, Colgate University. US treasury bond broker with Cantor Fitzgerald for 7 years. His sister-in-law Kaleen Pezzuti (Cornell ’95) was also killed in the WTC tragedy.
Donations:
The Todd Pelino ’89 Memorial Fund
Colgate University, Attn: Pat Caprio
13 Oak Drive
Hamilton, NY, 13346
Surviving are his wife Megan Pezzuti Colgate ’89 Pelino, and a son and daughter.
David Eliot Retik ’90 , Colgate U. alum, aboard American Airlines Flight 11. Sigma Chi, founding partner of Alta Communications, a Boston private equity fund. Survivors include his wife Susan Zalesne ’90 Retik and 2 young children.
Don Adams, Fairleigh Dickinson 1995, worked on the 105th floor for Espeed, a division of Cantor Fitzgerald. Donations may be made to:
Rebecca Adams Scholarship Fund
9 Carmine Ave.
Chatham, NJ, 07928
Aram Iskenderian, Rochester 1982,
Cantor Fitzgerald on the 101st floor of Tower 1. He
was speaking to his wife, Sheri, as the plane hit. He
has four children, ages 11, 8, and twin 4-year-olds.
Kevin Cleary, 38, was a UW-Madison alum ’86 and president
of the Sigma Chi fraternity, according
to his brother. A stockbroker, he was pursuing his dream of becoming an actor
Terence E. “Ted” Adderley, Jr.., 2001 Vanderbilt University graduate, Sigma Chi.
Ted worked for Fred Alger Management, an investment company with offices on the 93rd floor of the north tower of the World Trade Center.
He was 22 ( Vanderbilt U story )
Sigma Delta Tau Sorority
Michelle Renee Bratton, with Cantor Fitzgerald, dead at the World Trade Cente.
She was 23.
Ms. Bratton was a Sister of the Sigma Delta Tau Sorority, a S.U.N.Y. Os wego diver, a National Honor
Society inductee.
Memorial contributions:
Michelle R. Bratton Memorial Scholarship Fund
c/o Pine Bush High School, Route 302, Pine Bush, NY 12566.
Sigma Sigma Sigma
Alisha Levin , a 1990 Hofstra graduate and
human resources director for Fuji Bank, Sigma Sigma Sigma sorority.
The sorority has a scholarship established in Ms. Levin’s name.
The Order of Prometheus, Theta Omega Phi
Ken Cubas , a SUNY Potsdam alum, perished while helping others escape. He was active as a Big Brothers volunteer.
The town of Woodstock, NY has established a fund in Mr. Cubas’s name for its rescue service.
Zeta Beta Tau
Jason Jacobs died,
survived by his beloved wife Jennifer
and daughter Zoe.
His passions were gourmet
cooking and his family. He was 32, a graduate of Syracuse University.
Sigma Alpha Epsilon
Robert A. Rasmussen — from a letter writer Curt Stofferahn, Academic Advisor to ND Alpha Chapter of SAE, University of North Dakota :
“I thought I would send you more information about Robert Rassmussen, ND Beta Chapter of Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity alumnus, who was killed in the September 11th disaster. This obituary is from the Fargo Forum. My brother, Scott, was Robert’s big brother in the chapter. He said that Robert was the kindest, nicest, most gentle man who truly embodied all that we hld dear as True Gentlemen in SAE. Robert’s colleagues at Vestek said that last saw Robert helping a disabled employee down the stairs at the WTC. All of the other Vestek employees made it out all right. Scott says that it would be just like Robert to help someone less fortunate when everyone else was concerned only for themselves.”
Robert Arthur Rasmussen was born Nov. 14, 1958, in Fargo, ND, to Robert
and Elizabeth Rasmussen. Robert grew up in Hunter, ND, and graduated from
Dakota High School in 1977. He received a bachelor of science in
construction engineering from North Dakota State University in 1982.
Robert married Anna Worner of Fargo in 1986.
Robert had been employed by M.A. Mortenson Construction, Minneapolis,
MN, from 1984 to 1986 when he joined Turner Construction in Boston. He was a
consultant with Coopers & Lybrand in New York, NY, for two years prior to
joining Vestek in 1996.
Robert is survived by his wife Anna; daughter Taylor; and sons,
Jack, and Samuel. Mr. Rasmussen was last seen on the 78th floor of Two World Trade Center approximately 45 seconds prior to the airplane’s impact.
Memorial donations may be sent to the following fund established for the
education of Robert’s children: Robert A. Rasmussen Memorial Trust Fund,
c/o Leaders Bank, 2001 York Road, Suite 150, Oak Brook, IL 60523.
–Source, The Forum
– 09/20/2001
Michael B. Finnegan , University of Richmond ’86. He was a businessman and family man who had just celebrated as his beloved daughter began kindergarten .
The Michael Finnegan Fund
P.O. Box 3093
Kingston, NY 12402
Sigma Alpha Epsilon and UCLA alum and swimming letterman Andy O’Grady.
“Champion of the Underdog”: Andy’s Bio
Mr. O’Grady
Lost at the Pentagon, Maj. Wallace Hogan , Valdosta State ’82
Alpha Phi
Kristy Irvine Ryan (ΖΨ-Dayton), class of ’93, a victim of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center. Married 94 days. Kristy, a 30-year-old vice president of equity trading for Sandler O’Neill & Partners, was working in the investment banking firm’s 104th floor offices in the WTC’s South Tower. After the first airplane hit the North Tower, Kristy called her husband, Brendan Ryan, and her father, Stuart “Stu†Irvine.
She made a second call to her husband when she received word that her office was being evacuated. Brendan, who was watching the events on live television, says, “…She told me she loved me. We were still talking when I watched the second plane slam into her building … and the phone went dead.â€
Her father was watching too, “When I saw the second tower get hit, my heart just stopped. Flames engulfed the building up to the 104th floor and I just couldn’t move.â€
Zeta Psi
Dennis Cook, Villanova ’90. Cantor Fitzgerald
Gopal Varadhan, NYU ’90. Cantor Fitzgerald
Michael Davidson, Rutgers ’97. Cantor Fitzgerald
Delta Zeta
Melissa Vincent, Omicron Theta Chapter SUNY Oswego, Working at WTC 102nd floor, Alliance Consulting Group, 28 years old
Delta Zeta member Alicia Titus , Alpha Chapter Miami University Ohio, Flight Attendant for United Airlines, 27 years old Other sisters lost dear family members.
Phi Delta Theta
PDT has established a Relief Fund and
is asking chapters and individuals to consider voluntary
contributions.
The fraternity initiated the fund with a $25,000.00 gift and later this fall
a committee will disburse all the funds that are received in the account to
needy areas.
Donald T. Jones of Richmond ’84
Thomas R. Clark of Richmond ’86
Sean P. Lynch of Cornell ’88
R. Andrew Spencer, Maryland ’88.
A.Todd Rancke-Duke ’80; Ex-Eagle Scout l
Edward (Ted) H. Luckett Ohio Wesleyan ’84. Loved boating.
Terrance Gazzani ’00 Bentley College. Just starting out.
Swede Chevalier (loved horticulture,
( raising mums) of Cornell ’97
Sigma Alpha Mu Fraternity
and the Sigma Alpha Mu Foundation
have made a contribution
to the September 11th
Fund of the United Way of New York City.
In addition, the following chapters conducted
benefits or participated
in efforts to help victims: Illinois,
Miami Univeristy,
St. Johns; Illinois, Chicago; and Ohio State.
Scott Saber, Lehigh,
killed in attack on WTC.
Three Sigma Alpha Mu brothers from U-Michigan’s Sigma
Iota chapter perished while working at the Cantor Fitzgerald offices in the WTC:
Gregory Richards, Michigan ’92; Scott Weingard, Michigan ’93, Laurance Polatsch, Michigan ’91.
Donations to the Gregory Richards-Laurence Polatsch-Scott Weingard Foundation Fun, 253 Fifth Avenue, 2nd Floor, MY 10016.
Sigma Alpha Mu’s Laurence Polatsch, Michigan, killed in attack on WTC.
Brian Terrenzi, Oneonta, killed at WTC.
Frank Bonomo
New York City firefighter for 17 years, most recently with Engine Company 230. Also a former Setauket volunteer firefighter.
Married to Margarite, with two children, Joseph and Juliana.
Oldsmobile and Oldsmobile Scramble Finalists Donate More than $9,000 to New York Charity
DETROIT (Oct. 31, 2001) — Oldsmobile and the Oldsmobile Scramble announced today a donation of more than $9,000 to the New York Police and Fire Widows’ & Children’s Benefit Fund on behalf of Frank Bonomo, a firefighter from Port Jefferson, N.Y., who was killed in the World Trade Center attack.
The money was raised at the recent Oldsmobile Scramble National Finals at Walt Disney World, where Bonomo was scheduled to play with his teammates representing Port Jefferson Country Club.
Bonomo, a 17-year member of the New York Fire Department and member of Engine Company 230, was with one of the first units on the scene at the World Trade Center on Sept. 11 and lost his life in the rescue efforts. Bonomo is survived by his wife and two young children.
“Oldsmobile is very pleased to donate these funds to such a great cause,” said Debra Kelly-Ennis, general manager of Oldsmobile. “We are thrilled about the generous donations from the participants at the national finals and were proud to do our part.”
Nicholas Lassman, U of Miami and Maryland ’95 brother of Sigma Alpha Mu. Memorial: Nicky’s Club, Temple Beth El, 221 Schraalenburgh Rd, Closter, NJ 07624.
Brian Williams, Columbia ’94, Cantor Fitzgerald. Brian Williams Scholarship Fund, Columbia U. Dodge Fitness Center, 3030 Broadway, MC 1903, NY, NY 10027.
Delta Tau Delta
Christopher Todd Pitman, a 1993 Duke U. alumnus, Cantor Fitzgerald, WTC. Mr. Pitman was from Skaneateles,
N.Y. While at Duke, he was a member of Delta Tau Delta Fraternity.
Theta Chi
Mark E. Schurmeier (Wake Forest)
Mark Brisman (RPI) and John Humber (RPI)
Samuel Burick (Bradley)
Gary Lutrick, Rider U
Scott Coleman, Colgate
John Farrell (West Virginia Wesleyan)
John Vandevander, Lycoming (PA)
Craig M. Blass (in photo, James Madison U)
1
William C. Sugra, Indiana U. of Pennsylvania.
Phi Kappa Tau
Phil Parker, Muhlenberg, Mr. Parker is survived by his wife Joanie and teenage daughter.
Pete Mardikian, Ohio State, ‘ 92 graduate.
Delta Gamma female Fraternity
Melissa Candida Doi, Northwestern ’91 , was in the World
Trade Center. She worked for IQ Financial.
Alpha Delta Pi
Lynn Edwards Angell – aboard Flight 11 – Auburn University Class of 1971 – Alpha
Delta Pi – Husband (also killed) David was the co-creator/co-executive producer of “Frasier.” T hey were returning from a family reunion.
Lauren Catuzzi Grandcolas, on United Airlines Flight No. 93 ,
was born in Bloomington, Ind. At the University of Texas, she was a member of Alpha Delta Pi. She was a nationally known author and editor.
Lambda Chi Alpha
Robert Higley II, Aon Risk Management
on the 92nd floor of the South Tower. He and his
wife, Vycki, were expecting their second child in 4 weeks and had just bought a house.
Dean Thomas, Pittsburgh ’91
Todd R. Hill, U-Mass. ’89
Ken Walsh, Bloomsburg-Pennsylvania ’85.
Justin J. Molisani* Jr., 42,
of Middletown, New Jersey, died in the attack on the World Trade Center. He was a 1981 graduate of Lycoming College, Williamsport, PA, and a senior vice president and agency broker for Eurobrokers.
*Spelled “Molisari” in some news accounts
Jarrold Paskins, Nebraska-Omaha ’70. Mr. Paskins had been staying at the Marriott World Trade Center. He had been working at one of the several New York offices, including two possible locations in the World Trade Center. Paskins had intended to work on an insurance audit the day of the attacks in a large, windowed conference room on the north side of the 94th floor of Tower 1. The first attack was a direct hit to the 94th floor from the north. excerpt from article by Julie Anderson (Omaha World-Harold)
Robert Hymel was killed. He is from the University of Louisiana, Lafayette, and was a veteran.
Donald A. Delapenha, Baldwin-Wallace ’85, worked for Smith Barney.
Todd Hill, Massachusetts ’89, in New York on business
and staying at the Marriott World Trade Center.
Chris Dincuff, Villanova alum, was a sports trivia buff and appeared on ESPN’s Two-Minute Drill
Alpha Chi Omega
Kathy Nicosia, 54, an attendent for American Airlines, was
killed Sept. 11 in New York on American Airlines Flight 11.
She was 54, an alum of
Bowling Green State U.
Alpha Delta Pi
Jeremy Glick , a big manphysically believed to have helped
thwart terrorists taking his plane to Washington, was a University of Rochester graduate , president of Alpha Delta Phi,
captain of the rugby team, and winner of the NCAA judo championship
for his weight class in 1993. His plane crashed in a Pennsylvania field.
The Glick family has set up a non-profit organization called Jeremy’s Heroes with information about the organization and a page with links to other web sites that contain articles about Jeremy Glick and his family. In addition, the Glick family has set up a trust for Jeremy’s daughter. Donations can be made payable to Emerson Glick Trust . The address is:
Emerson Glick Trust
C/O Merrill Lynch
Attn: Lance Lipset
2 World Financial Center, Floor 40
New York, NY 10281
Delta Kappa Epsilon
David O. Campbell, 51, a senior vice president at Keefe, Bruyette and Woods, was a
loyal friend who kept in close touch with his his fraternity brothers. A joker, he once climbed onto a luggage carousel at Newark International Airport to spin around for laughs.
Mr. Campbell always saved his Sunday nights for his wife, Cindy, and
their two sons, Chip and Tim. The family would cook on the grill at home in
Basking Ridge, N.J., and catch up on the week. “Dave was an interesting
combination,” his friend and brother-in-law, Fred Anthony, told the New York Times. “He was the ultimate party animal and family man.” His father and grandfather were also Dekes, according to the DKE headquarters,
and he was the ultimate “good guy,” a high tribute.
Memorial Address for scholarship’s For Dave’s boys.
Cambell Boys’ Fund, c/o Albohm, Esq.
141 Dayton Street
Ridgewood, NJ 07450
Pi Kappa Alpha
James Brian Reilly, Pi Kappa Alpha alum from College of William and Mary, 89th floor of Two World Trade Center.
John Grazioso (Florida Tech, Pi Kappa Alpha, Zeta Sigma chapter ’81) Mr. Grazioso worked at One World Trade Center for the firm of Canter Fitzgerald.
Davis G. “Deeg” Sezna Jr., of the Wilmington, Del., area,
graduated in July 2001 from Vanderbilt.
Worked on 104th floor of the World Trade Center.
John “Eddie” Willett, a fraternity alum and University of Missouri alum, WorldTrade Towers casualty.
Colorado University fraternity member and alum Joshua Rosenblum,
28, killed four days before his planned wedding. Both are Pikes and grieved for their passing.
Sigma Phi Epsilon
Sig Ep chapters raised $62,000 by 10/25/01.
Daniel Afflitto, St. Joseph’s University ’91
Monty Hord,
University of Nebraska ’73.
World Trade Center. Read
Mr. Hord’s bio here .
Thomas W. Hohlweck, Jr., Kentucky Wesleyan ’67.
Mr Hohlweck Is survived by his wife, Pam, and three children, Todd, Robin and Randy.
Chris Larrabee, University of Arizona ’94
Greg Milanowicz, St. Joseph’s University ’98
Josh Reiss, University of South Carolina ’00
Jerry Sullivan, St. Joseph’s University ’91
Paul Acquaviva, Rutgers University ’94.
Killed at the Pentagon was Terry M. Lynch, Youngstown State University ’74
Phi Kappa Sigma
Brent Woodall, Cal-Berkeley alum. Died at WTC. He played two
years with the Chicago Cubs minor league teams.
The Brent Woodall Scholarship Foundation – San Diego
P.O. Box 8730
La Jolla, CA 92037-8730
The Brent Woodall Memorial Scholarship Fund – University of California at Berkeley
Bear Backer Office
c/o The Brent Woodall Memorial Scholarship Fund
2223 Fulton Street, 3rd Floor
Berkeley, CA 94720-4424
telephone 510-643-4268 – Tom Bowen
Gifts receives will go towards a football scholarship in memory of Brent Woodall in an endowed fund for the University of California Football Program
Kappa Alpha Order
Christopher D. Mello of Boston died aboard American Airlines
Flight 11 in New York City. He was 25 and a Princeton alum.
Pi Lambda Phi
John A. Ogonowski,
pilot of hijacked American
Airlines Flight 11; a Lowell Technical Institute alum
Alpha Tau Omega
Rob Lenoir, Duke University athlete;
Emersonian (local fraternity)
David Pruim, ’70, World Trade Center victim, Hope College. A native of Muskegon, Mich., David resided in Upper Montclair, N.J. with his wife and daughter.
Phi Mu Delta
University of New Hampshire chapter grad in 1959) is Robert LeBlanc,
a beloved UNH professor emeritus.
Chi Phi
Mark Bingham , a 6-5? former president of the chapter at Berkeley , has been called a hero, telling his mother by cell phone that he intended to do something about the hijacking. His was the plane that crashed in Pennsylvania. He is a former rugby star.
Kappa Alpha Psi
James D. Debeuneure, 58 , a Ketcham
Elementary School teacher in the Wash. DC Public
Schools who was flying the West Coast
to attend a National Geographic Society conference.
Mr. Debeuneure is an alumnus of Johnson C. Smith
College in Charlotte, N.C., and he had three children.
Phi Gamma Delta
Steve Glick, Northwestern University.
Jeff LeVeen , who worked on the 104th floor of the north tower, Trinity College, Phi Gamma Delta . LeVeen was a Partner and and Senior
Vice President of Equity Sales at Cantor Fitzgerald.He and his wife had five children: Jeff Jr., Betsy, Andrew, Katie and Meg.
Tau Kappa Epsilon
Three members of Tau Kappa Epsilon were killed in the terrorist attacks.
Here is an excerpt from a tribute to Wagner TKE member Michael DeRienzo by
his friend and fraternity brother Jim McGrath. E-mail Jim for complete text .
REMEMBERING MIKEY D
by Jim McGrath
I know that the tragic events of September 11th affected everybody that is
going to read this. We continually feel the pain, and it is a horrible pain.
Our hearts have reached out, and we feel for our families and friends. The
Wagner community lost good friends on that terrible day. Michael DeRienzo is
the friend that some of us knew best, and with the help of his friends, we
wish to tell you why our “Mikey D” meant so much to us.
Our Wagner history dates back 15 years or so, but the time frame really
doesn’t matter. We did the same things as current students do. We played
football in the Oval, painted the anchor for Homecoming, grabbed a bite to
eat in the hawk’s Nest when the dinner menu looked bad, and as TKE brothers,
enjoyed our fraternity home. At that time, it was in a dark hallway under
Cunard Hall.
Mike was a big part of our college experience. He was a Staten Islander, and
attended Wagner with his twin sister Lisa. They were very close, in a way
that only twins can know. their mother Mrs. DeRienzo, also worked at Wagner,
in the audio-visual department. She was a single parent, so it was just the
three of them, and it must have been special to be that close on a daily
basis.
Chris Ryan remembers Mike with one word – family. In January of 1986, the
DeRienzo’s invited a large group of people over to their home to watch the
Super Bowl. It was quite obvious to see how close they were. Last spring,
Chris played the role of host when Mike and Steve Mehler passed through his
home in Albany, en route to some skiing in Vermont. As he recalls, it was
big laughs, and big smiles. A couple of beers at troy Pub, a quaint
establishment where Chris is managing these days. A great visit. No reason
to think that it wouldn’t be repeated at a later date, but as Chris recalls,
“I’m a handshaker, not a hugger. I’m glad I was a hugger that day.”
Most often, his humor came out in a positive way. I always thought that Mike
reminded me of Jerry Seinfeld, without the biting sarcasm.
Mike graduated Wagner in 1987, with a degree in Business
Administration. After five years at U.S. Trust, in Manhattan, he took a
position as a broker with Cantor Fitzgerald, and worked on the 104th floor
of 1 World Trade Center.
I only know one detail of Mike’s whereabouts on the morning of September
11th. He had arrived for work and was there at 8:48 AM, when a jumbo jet
crashed into his building. He was at work, on the 104th floor, and this is
confirmed by a call from Todd Rutman, the father of Mike’s goddaughter. Mike
assured Todd that yes they heard an explosion downstairs and were leaving
the building immediately. I don’t know the tone of this conversation, but
get the feeling that Mike was optimistic about his chances that day.
A scholarship fund has been started in Michael’s name. Donations can be made
out to the Michael DeRienzo Scholarship Fund, c/o Frank Young, Vice
President of Development, Wagner College, 1 Campus Rd.., Staten Island, NY
10301.
It is hard to confine the grief that we have felt and are still feeling.
There are other Wagner graduates who lost their lives on September 11th, and
we mourn for Timothy Finnerty, Michael Clarke, Joseph Doyle, and Michael
Cammarata. Although this is written for our friend and fraternity brother,
the hurt is also felt for the people that we never had the opportunity to
meet. Our community at Wagner College lost a great deal of innocence on
September 11th. It is saddest to realize that some of our most innocent were
lost. To our friend Mikey D, we pray for your soul, for your family. You
were a great friend to many of us, and we will greatly miss you. Goodbye,
friend. Click for more tributes to Mikey D.
The Kappa Alpha Theta Foundation wants to help Thetas impacted by the horrific events of September 11 through the Friendship Fund. For more information about disaster relief through the Friendship Fund, please contact Gary Hand, Foundation executive director, 888-526-1870, ext. 108; ghand@kappaalphatheta.org .
Delta Phi.
Lehigh University fraternity member Edward “Fast Eddie” Pykon (So nicknamed because he was the DJ at fraternity parties). He was 33 and leaves a grieving wife and dad and daughter Jordyn. He was a business management expert, frequently sought by the media for his views and iinsights.
He was a New Jersey resident.
Omicron Delta Kappa Society (honorary fraternity)
Paul Ambrose , 32, was born in Charleston, W.Va., on Dec. 26, 1968, and graduated Magna Cum Laude from Marshall University. From 1995-96, Paul served as National Director of Legislative Affairs for the American Medical Student
Association in Washington, D.C. (an organization with over 30,000 members).
Paul completed his resident work at Dartmouth Medical School in the
Department of Community and Family Medicine. During thisharge of ar time he was
appointed by the former Secretary of Health and Human Services, Donna Shalala,
as a member of the Council on Graduate Medical Education (COGME), a federal body
which makes recommendation to Congress and the Secretary of Health regarding
medical education and the supply and distribution of physicians.
At Dartmouth, Paul became acquainted with former Surgeon General Dr. C.
Everett Koop. While serving as chair of the National Consortium of Residents,
he collaborated with Dr. Koop to design and administer the “C. Everett Koop
Resident Physician Leadership Symposium.” The Third Annual Symposium is
scheduled in April 2002 and will be renamed by Dr. Koop, “The Paul Ambrose
Resident Physician Leadership Symposium.” On Sept. 7, 2001, the Dartmouth
Hitchcock Medical Center governing board approved a Preventive Medical Residency
Leadership Program, which Paul first proposed together with faculty member Wayne Dysinger in 1996. Participants in the program will be designated as the Paul
Ambrose Leadership fellows.
Paul received a master’s degree in Public Health from Harvard in June 2000
where he had a joint fellowship between the Harvard School of Public Health and
the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Paul was currently the seventh Luther Terry Fellow in the U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services, serving as senior clinical advisor to the Surgeon
General, Dr. David Satcher. He worked closely with the Surgeon General’s office
on the coming National Call to Action on overweight and obesity and was going to
a conference in Los Angeles dealing with this problem on September 11, 2001.
In addition he worked part-time in Arlington, VA. in a family practice with a
Spanish speaking population.
Obituary in Charleston Daily Mail, November 23, 2001
Phi Kappa Sigma
Stephen G. Ward (1968-2001), a Univesity of Maine grad and Phi Kappa Sigma alum
(thanks to UM-Greeks for info), perished in the WTC.
His memorial is the Stephen Ward Scholarship
Fund, Maine Community Foundation, PO Box 7380, Portland, ME 04101.