Remembering 9/11: A Tribute to Joseph Mathai

His grave at reads: “Death leaves a heartache no one can heal; love leaves a memory no one can steal.”

His name was Joseph Mathai. He was 49.

Mathai was the only Arlington resident known to have died at the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

Arlington Patch could not reach Mathai’s family for comment. But obituaries from 2001 tell the story of a man his colleagues knew by his humor, modesty and unpretentious demeanor.

Mathai was a managing partner at Cambridge Technology Partners in Massachusetts. He was married with two children and divided his time between New York and Boston.

The World Trade Center had been a landmark in Mathai’s life, according to obituaries. He had dated his wife, Teresa, at Windows on the World. He started his first commercial venture at the World Trade Center. And he was there attending a conference on Sept. 11, 2001.

Mathai left behind his wife, Teresa; a son, Robert; a daughter, Michelle; his mother, Aleyamma; and four brothers, Cherian, Jacob, John, and Mathai.