Today, we remember those whose lives were lost during a horrific terrorist attacks on our soil and honor the first responders who heroically put their safety aside that day to assist those caught in the attacks. We must always stand against extremism and evil.
Seven people with ties to the region were among those who died 22 years ago today.
• Thomas Duffy, a 52-year-old senior vice president at insurance risk-management firm Marsh & McLennan. He was attending a meeting on the 99th floor of the north tower. He grew up in Utica and lived in Pittsford at the time of his death.
• Margaret Echtermann, 33, grew up in Barneveld and was living in Hoboken, N.J. She was an employee of Regus, a business center operator on the 93rd floor of the south tower.
• Edward Felt, 41, a senior engineer for BEA Systems in New Jersey, and one of 40 people who died as they fought hijackers on United Flight 93. Felt was born in Utica and graduated from Clinton Senior High School.
• Valerie Hanna, 57, was a senior vice president for Marsh & McLennan. She grew up in Holland Patent and worked on the 97th floor of the north tower.
• Don J. Kauth, 51, worked on the 86th floor of the south tower as a certified public accountant and bank analyst at Keefe, Bruyette & Woods. He was raised in South Utica and attended Notre Dame High School. He lived in Saratoga Springs.
• Michael O’Brien, 42, was senior vice president of the bond division at Cantor Fitzgerald Investments Co. He worked on the 104th floor of the World Trade Center’s north tower. The New Hartford native lived in Cedar Knolls, N.J.
• Michele Reed, 26, worked for Aon Corp. on the 100th floor of the World Trade Center’s south tower. She was a 1993 Norwich High School graduate, and was remembered in 2006 by her twin sister Jennifer Reed as a free spirit.
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