Fifteen years have passed since the terrorist attacks of 9/11 forever changed the skyline of New York and the political landscape of our nation.
Siena College felt personal loss as well. Several alumni and friends lost their lives at the World Trade Center, including Fr. Mychal Judge, OFM, a former assistant to the College president. Fr. Mychal was the chaplain for the Fire Department of New York at the time of the attacks.
To honor those lost and to pray for a peaceful way forward, Siena will host a Prayer for Peace at 3PM on Sunday, Sept. 11 at the Grotto on campus. The Siena community and the public are welcome to attend this service.
Siena’s Republican Club will be setting out American flags in front of Standish Library on Saturday, Sept. 10 at 9PM. This gesture is made each year by the club in observance of 9/11.
Fr. Mychal was killed at the World Trade Center while praying for firefighters and other first responders. As the first victim recovered and taken to the city’s medical examiner that day, Fr. Mychal was designated as “Victim 0001.” A Reuters photograph showing his body being carried from the rubble is one of the most iconic images of that day.
A scholarship was created in Fr. Mychal’s memory for Siena students who lost a family member on 9/11, or for a firefighter or son/daughter of a firefighter. Three Siena students are current recipients of the annual scholarship: Sydney Dyer ’18, East Moriches, NY (psychology); Ryan Kelleher ’18 from Clifton Park, NY (political science/French/pre-law); and Patrick Talbert (currently studying in London).
In addition to Fr. Mychal, Siena lost several other alumni and friends that day:
• Patrick Danahy ‘88
• Richard Fraser ‘90
• Don Kauth ‘72
• Terence McShane ‘86
• William Raub ‘85
• Michael Taddonio ‘84
• Matthew Sellitto, brother of Jonathan ‘05
• John Reo and John Swaine, son and son-in-law of Armand Reo ‘66
• James Corrigan, father of Brendan ’96 and Sean ‘99
• Thomas Damaskinos, cousin of Fr. Dennis Tamburello, OFM ‘75
A plaque honoring them is in the lobby of Foy Hall. Scholarships and golf tournaments were established in memory of many of the alumni, and the College’s Market Trading Room was established in Raub’s honor to offer Siena’s business students the latest financial technology used every day in the world’s largest financial trading centers.
