Ten Years Later: Montclair Remembers

Diana Stewart, the Montclair widow of Michael Stewart, one of the men killed on 9/11, may have said it best: "For Americans, life is different but life goes on. We have become wiser. We have become more aware."

Stewart was a speaker on Sunday morning at the Township's 9/11 Memorial Service in Watchung Plaza's small park. The clear skies of the morning, many in attendance recalled, were not unlike those of the same morning 10 years ago. More than 100 people were there to mark the anniversary of the terror attacks on 9/11.

A few people wiped away tears as Christopher Kavanagh played "Amazing Grace" on the bagpipes. A row of small children stood solemnly to recite the Pledge of Allegiance along with their parents.

As "The New York Times" reminded readers, 3,652 days have passed since two planes slammed into the World Trade Center towers. But for many emotions are still—even now—very close to the surface.

"In some ways the whole thing feels like it just happened yesterday," said Betty Lambert, a retired teacher. "It makes me just as sad now as I remember it all as it did then."

As families gathered at ground zero, where 2,749 died, and in Washington and in Pennsylvania to pay tribute to the 224 who died there, Montclair residents also came together to remember those with connections to the area—as well as all those who perished that day.

Township Manager Marc Dashield said that Montclair must remember all of the victims.

"This is a time of reflection on the resilience that the tragedy has taught us," he said, adding that "we will never forget."

The annual Memorial Service, which takes place by the monument bearing the names of nine townspeople killed on 9/11, is a solemn tradition initiated by former Mayor Bob Russo and continued by Mayor Ed Remsen and then Mayor Jerry Fried.

Fried and Russo were both in attendance on Sunday, as were Township Council members Cary Africk and Nick Lewis, and also Deputy Mayor Kathryn Weller-Demming.

Sgt. Julie Martin of the Montclair Volunteer Ambulance Unit read a poignant poem by Cheryl Sawyer.

"As the soot and dirt and ash rained down, we became one color," she recited. "As we carried each other down the stairs of the burning building, we became one class."

Paul Brubaker, Communications Director for U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr., said he remembers working as a reporter for the "Montclair Times" after 9/11.

"I remember talking to the widows and I want to acknowledge their courage," he said. "They weren't just grieving but setting an example by telling their stories.

"It is the telling of our own stories that we must do in order to live up to the promise of that day to never forget," he said.

He said Pascrell is mindful of all 40 people from the 8th congressional district who died in the 9/11 attacks.

Stewart echoed Brubaker's words, saying that she'd been speaking with Glenfield Middle School students this past week about what happened on 9/11.

Although only about 3 years old at the time of the attacks, she said she hopes that "God willing, those children will continue to respect the day" in the same way their parents and grandparents respect World War II and Pearl Harbor.

Stewart's sons Franco and Eamon, who were just 13 and 11 at the time of their father's death, were with her on Sunday morning.

Stewart presented the Township with a large flag that bears the names of first responders intermingled with those they tried to save.

"I want this to be a symbol of life," she said to a round of applause.

We remember those with connections to Montclair who lost their lives on 9/11:

Michael L. Collins, 38, a manager with eSpeed, was an adventurous type who went rock climbing in Japan and rode mountain bikes on the back roads of Hawaii. Eleven years before 9/11, he met his wife Lissa.

Caleb Arron Dack, 39, a father of two who studied molecular biology but later went into computers. In July 2001, he was named senior vice president of a start-up called Encompys and was attending a trade show at Windows on the World on 9/11.

Emeric J. Harvey, 56, was founder and president of Harvey Young Yurman Inc. He was attending a weekly breakfast meeting at Windows on the World on 9/11. As a child he lived in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn. He was said to be a born leader with relentless energy.

Scott M. Johnson, 26, was a securities analyst with Keefe, Bruyette & Woods. He was a 1993 graduate of Montclair Kimberley Academy.

Howard L. Kestenbaum, 56, was involved with his temple, Beth Ahm in Verona, N.J., and worked at Aon Risk Services on the 103rd floor of the South Tower. He worked to benefit the homeless and was married to Granvilette.

Robert M. Murach, 45, grew up in Brooklyn but lived in Montclair with his wife Laurie and two daughters. The senior vice president worked for Cantor Fitzgerald at One World Trade Center. He was in his North Tower office on 9/11. He excelled at sports including track, golf, and scuba diving.

David Pruim, 53, a senior vice president for the Aon Corporation, was working on the 103rd floor of 2 World Trade Center on 9/11. He and his wife Kate had been married 28 years.

Ronald J. Ruben, 36, was a member of the Montclair High School class of 1982 and attended Ithaca College. He was killed in Tower Two.

Michael Stewart, 42, was born in Belfast but moved to New York in 1981 to marry Diana, a New Yorker he had met at Stirling University. Shortly before 9/11, he had taken a job as a senior executive at Carr Futures, which had offices on the 92nd floor of the north tower of the World Trade Center.

We invite you to add your own remembrances and comments.