Posted by
Rich from NW Indiana on Sunday, September 10, 2006 1:35:55 AM
On a beautiful, warm, sunny, fall day Ralph Gerhardt did what millions of people do every morning. He went into the office for a normal work day. He was a thirty-four year old, Canadian who had moved to New York from Toronto, to work for Cantor Fitzgerald, the giant finance firm.
He had found success at Cantor Fitzgerald having already become a vice-president for the company at a very young age. He had a serious girlfriend, Linda Luzzicone. Linda also worked for Cantor Fitzgerald, she also lost her life on that day. Ralph's life was going very well and shaping up to be a very great one.
When the plane hit the World Trade Center, Ralph was in his office at Cantor on the 105th floor overlooking the Hudson River. He called his father, Hans, to tell him that something had happened at the tower. He told him that he was alright, and that he was evacuating from the tower. It was the last that his family heard from him.
Ralph's family was very important to him. On the
website that they sent up in his honor, tells of the many good times that they had as a family. It tells of trips home for holidays and many phone calls. He left behind his parents Hans and Helga Gerhardt of Toronto, Canada, and his older brother Stephan who lives in Washington D.C.
The Gerhardt Family have tried to make some good come from their great loss. They have done a number of things to help others in Ralph's name. That is a great way to honor the memory of someone lost too soon.
On the family website Ralph's brother wrote:
"Ralph lived life for life’s sake. Not to work, or plan for tomorrow but to enjoy today. Ralph enjoyed the challenges, thrills and obstacles that life offered. His family and friends were always first on his list of piorities. Ralph, you will be remembered by us all.”
Rest In Peace
This tribute was written to honor the people lost on 9/11. It is easy to forget that each individual person who died that day had lives and families that cared about them. To read more tributes of the 2996 from other bloggers from around the world, check out the main website:
http://www.jamulian.com/db911/Or to read the 2996 posts from fellow Townhall bloggers: check out
Katies blog, she has posted the links to many.
The photo of Ralph Gerhardt is from the family website, I hope they don't mind that I borrowed it. There will be no posts for a few days so this post stays on top for awhile.
