Cranford Resident Remembered on 9/11

For a college baseball pitcher and an overall sports aficionado, it was a dream come true.

In 1994 Christopher Grady  stood on the mound in Yankee Stadium and pitched batting practice for the New York Yankees — one of the most memorable moments in his life, not only for him, but also for the ones he left behind. 

Christopher Grady passed away at age 39 during the terrorist attack at the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001.

On the anniversary of his brother's death Brendan Grady spent a quiet, low-key day together with Christopher's family; his wife and two young children.

"(We're) trying to keep things as normal as we possibly can," he said. 

Christopher Grady Fund

After his brother's death, the family established a charity in his honor – the Christopher Grady Memorial fund. As his wife, Kelly Grady, struggled to make ends meet after his passing, the funds helped her pay for living expenses for her two children. 

In addition to helping the family, the charity routed funds to Little League and softball teams, and Poly Prep Country Day School in Brooklyn, which the two brothers attended while growing up in New York City.

To raise the funds, the Gradys organized golf outings. Golf was also an important part of Christopher Grady's life, Brendan Grady said.  It was in 1994 when he played his first round of golf. It was at his own bachelor party.

"A group of friends got together, played a round of golf and went to dinner afterwards," Brendan Grady said. During the game, Christopher discovered that his two younger brothers, who played golf, were good at it.

"It was his interest to get better," he said. "It was his goal to surpass them on the golf course, which he did in short time."

Christopher Grady attended Le Moyne College in Syracuse, New York. Later in life, he became a trader at Cantor Fitzgerald, working out of the World Trade Center. In 1999, he and his young family moved to Cranford.

"He was a great dad, loving brother, adoring son, tremendous athlete and an avid golfer," Brendan Grady said. "He is greatly missed by his friends and family. And often thought of."