In Memoriam

Dennis Michael Cook

September 11, 2001







That morning, I walked from the parking lot to my office building in downtown Richmond, a little bit late. It was one of those achingly beautiful days which convince you that the sky has never been this blue before.

Dennis Cook was at work as well, at Cantor Fitzgerald on the 104th floor of Tower One. He had come that morning from Colts Neck, NJ, some 50 miles by car; quite different from my 3-mile commute. Perhaps he took the train, maybe from the Red Bank station. Maybe from Matawan.

At 8:46, I was starting to settle into my routine, clearing my email inbox.

At 8:46, Flight 11 struck Tower One between the 93rd and 98th floors. There were no survivors above that line.

Dennis left two daughters, 3-year-old Sophia, and 6-month-old Lindsay, and his wife Dana, who he had met when they were both students at Villanova. An avid golfer, he had developed a habit of placing his wedding ring on his key ring to make for a more comfortable grip. Also attached to the key ring was a supermarket discount tag.

Police Officer Richard Conte of Manhattan's 13th Precinct was assigned to a digging and recovery unit. He found the key ring and sent it to the city property clerk as required, but it preyed on his mind that the ring would most likely never make it back to the woman or man who had placed it on another's finger.

Conte obtained permission to try to track down the owner of the ring, on his own time. His search led him to Dennis's name, then to Dana's. He personally took the ring to Dana's father, who presented it to her on what would have been their sixth wedding anniversary.

( Read more... )
We are still here. We remember. We speak the names of those who were lost. We give thanks for their lives, and for the work of those like Richard Conte, who are not content to forget.

Read the full story of Dennis's wedding ring here. This memorial was produced in association with 2996.



More links:
Local news coverage

Comments from a high school classmate and a Villanova classmate

A quilt square made for Dennis

CNN link

A pet rescue organization remembering 9/11 by naming animals

Personal remembrances at legacy.com

Tags: 9/11