During the first WTC attack, in February 1993, there were 6 people lost in a senseless act of terrorism.  One, John DiGiovanni, was a friend of mine.  When the trade center was attacked again 8 years later, I was in the city watching in horror from the window of my office as the towers fell.  I couldn’t bear to think of how many more friends or loved ones might have been lost.  Fortunately, of the almost 3,000 who perished, none of my friends or relatives were among them…or so I thought.

About a year later I was shocked and saddened to learn, that I had lost two distant cousins from opposite sides of the family on 9/11.   Marie Lukas, 32, was a member of the Libassi branch and worked as a bond trader at Cantor Fitzgerald.  She, like most of her co-workers, never made it out of the towers after the attack.   Marie, whom I never met, was my third cousin.  She was the daughter of Frank Lukas,  son of Mary Libassi who was the daughter of my great great uncle Calogero – (Maria Libassi’s brother).   Her father, Frank, is a retired fireman and was in contact with her via cell phone before she died.

Marie's brother, Frank, was also in one of the buildings.  It is believed he was a Port Authority policeman and came to the scene when he saw what happened knowing his sister was up there. Fortunately, he got out before the buildings came down.   Marie, God rest her soul, was not as fortunate. 

At a wedding about two years after 9/11 I sat next to second cousins from my mom’s (the Testaverde) side of the family, whom we had never met.   While we chatted about my cousin Joe who suffered a spinal cord injury in 2002,  they casually mentioned that they could relate to that tragedy after what happened to her son.  What happened, we all soon learned, was that Stephen Hagis (31), who also worked at Cantor Fitzgerald, about the same age as Marie Lukas, was also in the WTC at the time of the attack.  

Steven was 6’9” basketball star at Farrell High School, but was even better known for his big heart.   He and his wife Gloria were very spiritual and devoted a good deal of time to bible study, attending retreats, and opening their home to young people. 

Steven attended Fairfield University on full scholarship where he played Division 1.  When his dreams of a basketball career fell short due to an injury, he focused on his academics, graduating with a degree in finance and economnics.  Eventually he landed a job at Cantor Fitzgerald where he worked his way up to vp government bond trading.

When the planes hit the tower, he was on the 105^th floor, and called his wife Gloria to ask for her prayers.  In 1993 he was late getting home from that first attack, opting to help a disabled man in a wheel chair get out of the building.  This time he would not have that chance.   

We met Stephen's lovely wife Gloria at the wedding that evening, in addition to his mom and dad, Mary Jane and Steve.   Steven's two children Daniel and Jaclyn, can be very proud of their dad. 

Our prayers are with Marie Lukas and Steven Hagis and their families.