"Katie 
understood better than most that life is about relationships," said David Porterfield. "Relationships - somehow, Katie grasped that when time ran out, what we would recall is that that's all that life's about, that it only takes a moment to be loved a whole life long."
Rev. Porterfield is talking about Katie McCloskey, who was just beginning to live out her dream on September 11th, 2001.
She beamed her unbelievably infectious smile every day, but especially when she talked about the new job she'd begun in July. She enthused in the "Big Apple Diary" that was found in her apartment after her death, that the office overlooked the Statue of Liberty.
Katie was working at her desk in that office on the 97th floor of the World Trade Center tower when the tower was struck in the September 11th attack. She was just twenty-five years old when she died.
Born and raised in South Bend Indiana, Katie McCloskey graduated from high school in 1994 and went on to college at Indiana University in the class of 1999. After working in Indianapolis for two years she was off to New York where a few months later she landed a job at Marsh Insurance in the Trade Center.
Friend Richie Hayes who says "It feels like a part of my heart is gone, too" had met Katie in high school. He remembers her longtime dream of moving to New York and how in the spring of 2001 she packed her bags and with her dog, Spencer, she headed east in a cherry red Mustang convertible.
"She loved her family and her friends . . . but she followed her dreams and her zest for life," he said.
The McCloskeys admit their grieving has been difficult. “This is something you
never get over. It's something that comes an additional dimension to
your personal life. Something that will be with you the rest of your
life,” says
Katie’s father Dick.
If you would like to donate or learn more about the Katie McCloskey Scholarship Fund, click here. Or download a copy of the scholarship application here: Download mccloskeyappl.pdf
.
Susan, that is a beautiful tribute and so well written. You made her very real. Thank you for sharing your tribute.
Posted by: beth | 09/23/2006 at 11:26 PM
Wonderful tribute, thank you. It still hurts to read these, I'm still doing it.
I linked to you from
2996 tribute to victims of 9/11 - Terrence E Adderley
http://plancksconstant.org/blog1/2006/09/2996_tribute_to_vict.html
Posted by: planck's constant | 09/23/2006 at 10:22 AM
Hearing the personal stories can be overwhelming, but I can't imagine how much more so for the families.
Posted by: gr8face | 09/12/2006 at 06:18 PM
Oh, to lose a daughter so young, that must have been so hard. This was such a beautiful tribute to Katie. I am sure her family would be proud to read this post!
I honored Amy R. King and Matthew C. Tarrou from UA Flight 175.
Posted by: Laura | 09/12/2006 at 05:50 PM
A beautiful tribute to a beautiful girl...inside and out. Thank you for making Katie more than a name on a memorial wall to me.
I remembered Susan Clyne and Jon Schlissel.
Posted by: Laury | 09/12/2006 at 06:43 AM
Susan, your tribute is beautiful and we appreciate you introducing Katie to us. Thank you so much for having the icon on your blog so long ago. Had it not been for you, our family would not have known about this tribute. You are a dear treasure.
Much love,
The Hodsdons (Sarah Remembering Alan Bondarenko http://sarah-n-dipitous.com, and the boys remembering Mr. Marino http://treefortenterprises.com
Posted by: Sarah Hodsdon | 09/11/2006 at 06:51 PM