A Look at Chathamites Lost in 9/11 Attacks

After 13 Chatham residents died in the terrorist attacks on 9/11, a group of volunteers from Chatham Borough lobbied to get a memorial erected in the town. The 9-11 Memorial was dedicated on Sept. 11, 2008, with the names of the 13 residents engraved on plaques in a circle around two beams from the Twin Towers. Here, in the words of Chatham Borough Mayor Nelson Vaughan, is a look at the lives of those 13 Chathamites:

Donald L. Adams, 28, was a vice president at Cantor Fitzgerald. He was the captain of his college football team and a new father of a daughter. He loved to stroll around Chatham with his wife and daughter.

Dennis Buckley was 38 and a bond trader at Cantor Fitzgerald. In college, he had a full lacrosse scholarship. He was a committed husband and father of three young girls. He loved to play tennis and golf.

Paul S. Gilbey, 39, was an assistant vice president at Euro Brokers. He loved to ski and was a father of two young sons. He would leave his home everyday at 4:30 a.m. so he could visit the gym before work.

Gary R. Haag, 36, grew up in Chatham Borough. He was a vice president at Marsh and McLennon. He played baseball and football at Chatham High and was the father of a young daughter and two sons. He loved the Yankees and Rangers and coaching T-ball.

 Anthony P. Infante, Jr., 47, was an inspector for the Port Authority Police. He ran in the New York City Marathon and rushed back to the World Trade Center to help those still inside. He was a father of a grown daughter and son. He loved to coach his children in softball and basketball.  He also volunteered at St. Patrick Church. 

Robin B. Larkey was 48 and a foreign currency broker at Cantor Fitzgerald. He grew up in Surry, England and was a loving husband and father of three sons. He was a skilled boxer who had a wry English sense of humor. He often could be found watching his favorite English football team, Chelsea.

Christian H. Maltby was 37 and also a foreign currency trader at Cantor Fitzgerald. He was a father of two young sons and a daughter. In high school, he was a champion swimmer. He taught Sunday school at St. Paul’s Church and was a prolific reader.

Philip W. Mastrandrea, Jr., was 42 and a partner at Cantor Fitzgerald. He was born in Brooklyn and the father of two young daughters. His hobbies included collecting watches and cars. He loved the beach.

Peter C. Moutos, 44, was a systems consultant at Marsh & McLennan. He loved to work out at the gym and played baseball and wrestled in school. He loved being picked up after work at the Chatham train station by his wife and they would head off to the YMCA in Madison.

Thomas  Strada was 41 and a bond broker at Cantor Fitzgerald. He loved to fish and was a father of young sons and a daughter. His second son was just four days old when he died. He would often go to Boston Celtic games and couldn’t wait to vacation at Disney World.

Kenneth J. Swenson, 40, grew up in Chatham Borough. He was a vice president at Cantor Fitzgerald and a member of Chatham’s Emergency Squad. He was a father of two sons and loved taking them on camping trips.

William R. Tieste was 54 and an executive vice president at Cantor Fitzgerald He was the driving force behind getting lights on Nash Field in Chatham Township. He was a father of two grown sons and loved to play golf with them.

Peter M. West, 54, was a municipal bond trader at Cantor Fitzgerald. He loved to ride his Harley-Davidson Softail Deuce, skydive and take flying lessons. He was a father of a grown daughter and son.  He was proud that his son chose him be the best man at his wedding.  He also loved to travel in Europe.

Let us remember these, our fellow Chathamites as they were in life and not death. Let us remember them with fondness and kindness in our hearts. And as we go forward from today, may our nation be forever vigilant so that these brave and innocent victims shall not have died in vain. God bless America and God bless Chatham.

The above text was taken from Vaughan's speech at the 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony in Chatham Borough on Sept. 11, 2009, one year after the memorial was dedicated.

In the days leading up to Sept. 11, Chatham Patch will look at the lingering impact of 9/11 on the community.

In case you missed it:
Monday— in Chatham Borough and Chatham Township.
Tuesday—A look at , who joined the U.S. Marines after 9/11 and died in Iraq in 2004, through the eyes of his widow.

Coming Up:
Thursday—How police protocols have changed in Chatham since 9/11.
Sept. 9—Coverage of Chatham Township's memorial ceremony.
Sept. 10—A special You Said It with Chatham residents about what they remember from 9/11. Also, Saturday evening coverage of Chatham Borough's memorial ceremony.
Sept. 11—Video of Chatham Borough's memorial ceremony and county coverage of other memorial events.