Thomas Daniel Burke, 38, of Bedford Hills, died tragically and without cause on Sept. 11, 2001, at the World Trade Center. Tom was a managing director and partner at Cantor Fitzgerald working on the 104th floor or Tower 1. Tom grew up in Manhasset on Ryder Road in Munsey Park. He graduated from St. Mary's Elementary and High Schools and, in 1985, from the College of the Holy Cross, a tradition in the Burke family. His wife, Julie, and his four sons, John, Brian, Thomas and George survive him. He is also survived by his parents, Alexander and Sue Burke. He is also survived by his siblings and their spouses: Jim and Sheila Burke, Brian and Su Burke, Chris and Liz Burke, Nancy and George Salter, Matt and Cathy Burke and A. J. Burke. He was the adored uncle of 19 nieces and nephews and the cherished and loyal friend of many.

A Mass of the Resurrection was offered on Friday, Sept. 28, at John Jay Homestead in Katonah. Contributions in his memory may be made to The Thomas Burke Family Trust, c/o Ropes & Gray, One International Place, Boston, MA 02110, Attn: Valerie Thibeau.

The World Trade Center disaster claimed the life of my brother, Manhasset native Timothy John Coughlin at 42 years of age. Tim was the third of the four sons of Alice and Frank Coughlin but was also very much a son of St. Mary's and of Manhasset. Tim was married to the former Maura O'Callaghan of Woodbury and they had three children: a 4-year-old daughter Ryann (his "sweet potata") and sons 3-year-old Sean and 6-month-old Riley. They made their home in Manhattan and they had just completed construction of a new summerhouse in Westhampton Beach. Tim also had many good friends in Garden City.

Tim was a 1976 graduate of St. Mary's High School and a 1980 graduate of Stonehill College, North Easton, Massachusetts. As a young boy although Tim was thin and small in stature, he developed two traits that would carry him throughout his life: a competitive nature in anything he did together with the ability to make, keep and build upon friendships. While in high school at St. Mary's, Tim played lacrosse and basketball and in his senior year he was the Varsity's Most Valuable Player in each sport. With the urging, blessing and temporal intervention of a priest then-assigned to St. Mary's Parish, the good Father Paul Duff, C.S.C., Tim began his college career at Stonehill College, a Holy Cross fathers school located outside of Brockton, Massachusetts.

The Holy Cross order of priests also runs the University of Notre Dame and Tim used to tell me that Notre Dame was the Stonehill of the Midwest. Tim was, to stay the least, active in campus social life and worked throughout his college years at "Brother Mike's," the campus bar. Tim also played football at Stonehill, as a tight end in his junior year and, as a halfback in his senior year, when he rushed in one game for more than 200 yards and won yet another MVP award.

Tim was a United States Treasury securities broker right out of college joining RMJ Securities and his drive and endurance made him the quintessential "broker's broker." The force of his personality and his boundless persistence were the building blocks of a successful career. He had a marvelous mental facility for the recall of names and where people worked and from where he knew them. Tim left RMJ in the late '80s in a move to Garban and then in the mid-'90s Tim Coughlin was made a senior managing director of Cantor Fitzgerald Securities and then later of E-Speed, the publicly held concern created to implement the brokerage of securities via electronic commerce. At the time of his death, Tim was one of the senior people in the firm's government securities brokerage operation.

Tim was, to no surprise of those who knew him well, a fabulous father, a devoted husband and a terrific uncle. He enjoyed being with all his kids and his nephews and nieces and he made them laugh like he made adults laugh. He was so enthused about the life with his "Shweetie" Maura and the kids, so looking forward to their life together. He could laugh with Maura so easily and they loved each other very much.

Tim and his wife Maura were generous supporters of St. Mary's High School as well as the Manhasset Lacrosse Hall of Fame Dinner and the Manhasset Booster Club, Little Flower Children Services and Stonehill College.

Tim was in superb physical shape. He ran, did the "stair-master," biked, played basketball (never really could shoot however) and did triathlons. He worked out practically every day and he was diligent about his "push-ups" and his "sit-ups." Tim was the best at getting out of the sack each morning for work or working out no matter how late he went to bed or how hard he had socialized the night before. He generally arrived at the Downtown Athletic Club most mornings during the week at 6 am to begin his workouts. He had extraordinary discipline about what he ate (usually no sweets) and what he drank (usually Coors's Lites).

It is hard for a piece like this to capture the larger than life attributes of Tim Coughlin. He approached all aspects of life with a passionate zeal yet he could easily laugh at himself and with others. Despite his success in business he was never haughty and he hated pomposity. He was a pleasure to be out on the golf course with, as he made the day both fun and competitive. He was a durable and loyal "friendship hawk" such that if he didn't hear from you, he would circle back and make the phone call as to what's going on and when can we get together. The enduring legacy of Tim Coughlin will be that he worked hard at and was sincere about his relationships at work, within family and with friends. He was one of a kind and he will be missed.

As the class adviser of the remarkable MHS Class of '95, I met Paul in seventh grade and, although I didn't experience the great pleasure of teaching him, I watched him flourish to a determined, wonderful, happy person whom everyone loved dearly.

How do I describe a magnificent young person who had his vigorous life ahead of him, but is no longer with us? How do I comfort his many friends and teachers from MHS? How do I respond to dozens of daily e-mails from graduates, teachers and guidance counselors of '95? The best description would come from K.J. Johnston and Andrew Penacchia, both of whom delivered beautiful, unforgettable eulogies for Paul. Nonetheless, I have several memories of Paul.

When I think of Paul I envision--

A big smile - like a brilliant streak of sunlight on a dark day. Always smiling - his joy and vitality are contagious. He is (not was) the exhilarating life of life. Some might allude to the cliché, he "lived every day as if it were his last." Paul loved life with a passion.

I witness Paul chasing a fly ball in left field of MHS, but he allows Tim McMahon from center field to grab it. "What happened?" Tim asks. "I knew you'd catch it." I think that Paul liked to see his buddies shine in something they truly enjoyed. [After a group of us visited the Cascios recently, we had a barbecue at the McMahons where one of Paul's friends suggested a plaque for him in left field; however, another '95er interrupted by saying, "never mind left field, Paul would want a plaque in the girls' locker room!"]

Wearing his baseball cap, Paul is walking through MHS, like a gladiator in the coliseum, like Bono on stage. He smiles, says "hello" to classmates, is approached by many, slaps hands with Joe, laughs with Higgins and arrives, fashionably, a minute late to class. His energy and spirit touched everyone he saw.

Paul arrives on a Saturday at the home of the Limas, as we build our float - Cliff and Bubba and many others are seriously working on this project. Suddenly Paul grabs a football and now everyone is playing tackle football on the lawn. "Don't worry," Paul comforts me, "We never win!" Everyone laughs and Paul throws a pass, which misses Jack and Jay but smashes the Limas' lamppost. "Why didn't you catch it?" Paul inquires.

I see Paul surfing the earth. At 24, Paul had traveled more than most people will ever travel on this miniscule, precious earth ... studying and swimming in Australia; skiing in Vermont with his extraordinary uncle; flying to Fiji; eating pasta with Steve Ardonvini's relatives in Italy; traveling through Europe; feeling the wonder of Italian art and culture with KJ; I see Paul and Brendan at a U2 concert in Ireland, then visiting a castle; writing a post card with Andrew from Paris to his French teachers. At Paul's Mass, his French teacher, Mrs. Bornholdt, was moved, "He was just a kid - this could be my son."

"Hard work doesn't guarantee anything, but without it you don't stand a chance." (Pat Riley) [a Senior yearbook quote chosen by Paul]

Tall and handsome in his dark suit, Paul sits at his desk - working, learning, achieving - on his way to being an accomplished businessman. As he admires one of the most breathtaking views in the world, he calls his uncle for "financial advice," his loving parents, his brother Evan, his buddies - Let's grab a pizza tonight." Success eagerly awaited Paul.

As Evan recently spends the evening at Paul's apartment, I see Paul watching over his younger brother. Evan has a guardian angel - right behind him. As Father expressed at the Mass, he is "the wind beneath your wings.

On a sunny June evening, I see Paul's bright smile. He is wearing a cap and gown at our MHS graduation. He is with his parents, embracing and kissing a wonderful, beautiful woman whom he adores - his mom.

I observe Paul on the eve of Sept. 11 watching football with Brendan, Tom and others in a "cool" apartment of NYC, a city he loved and enjoyed daily. They watch the game, laugh, which is the medicine frequently prescribed by Dr. Cascio, and simply have a good time with old buddies - many of Paul's friends originated in elementary school.

"The test of a great champion is how he reacts to adversity on the days it's bound to come." Leahy [A yearbook quote chosen by Paul] Paul's dynamic spirit now inspires us to overcome adversity, Paul is truly a champion of life, family and friends. Speaking through K.J. and Andrew at Monday's Mass, Paul urged us to take greater pleasure in our family and friends. Paul Cascio exemplifies Carpe Diem.

Under Paul's yearbook photo, as he smiles radiantly, we read--If I could I would (U2), (another yearbook quote of Paul's) "Paul, you could and you did." You truly enjoyed life to the fullest, and you brought great joy and love to your family, friends, teachers and everyone else you touched.

(The following are excerpts from remarks made by Rev. Jimmy Only at the memorial service at the Congregational Church.)

Chris Quackenbush was a big man in every sense of the word. At 6'4," he towered over most of us. And everything he did, he did in a big way. Whether he was chartering a helicopter in order to take his kids from a hometown basketball game to a Giants game, or flying the entire Mets team to the White House to meet the president, Chris knew what it meant to live large. And then there was his heart. The big, big heart that his friends and family loved, the heart that gave hope to so many hurting people.

It all began on Jan. 5, 1957, when Chris was born in Bay Shore. He attended the public schools, playing lots of golf and basketball, graduating in 1975. Everybody knows Chris was a Tar Heel, attending his beloved University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a major in English and a minor in political science. Chris always took pride in his family connection to the place, with his grandfather once chairing the history department. Chris graduated with honors in 1979.

In 1982, he graduated from New York University Law School and began his career as an attorney at the nation's largest mergers and acquisitions law firm, Skadden Arps. In 1986, he began working for Merrill Lynch Capital Markets. And then in February 1989, Chris joined Sandler O'Neill & Partners as a founding partner. Chris was highly competitive and loved his work, once bragging that he had made eight deals on one business trip.

As committed as Chris was to Sandler O'Neill, this was truly only one facet of his multifaceted life. The most important people in his life were his family-Traci, Whitney, C.J. and Kelsey. Chris was one year ahead of Traci at Bay Shore High School, and was an A student in her father's 10th grade history class. He hit the jackpot in 1977 when they started dating. And in November of 1984 they were married.

1990 was a big year in the Quackenbush household for their first child, Whitney was born. Whitney, you and your dad had such a special relationship - fishing, clamming, and crabbing together.

C.J., when you were born in 1992, little did your dad know that you would become as big a sports fanatic as he was. Who can count how many Islanders, Mets, and Giants games you two attended?

Kelsey, when you were born in 1995, you were your daddy's little princess, a title you never outgrew.

In addition to his beloved family, Chris had an extended family that numbered in the thousands. These were the people he touched with his unlimited generosity. When someone came into my office with an overwhelming need, I could always count on Chris to help. Much of Chris and Traci's charitable giving was done through the Jacob Marley Foundation, named after Scrooge's business partner in Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. Growing up, Chris, his parents, and his sisters and brothers always watched the movie at Christmastime. And somewhere along the way, he got the message in a major way that sharing wealth with those in need was not only the right thing to do, but also a source of great joy. Chris knew how to have fun with it.

Later on, the lack of low-income housing in Bay Shore prompted Chris to buy a house and turn it into affordable apartments. He was bursting with pride a few years ago when children from those apartments started college. In 1993, the Jacob Marley Foundation was officially incorporated to fund educational, literary, and religious programs for underprivileged children. The foundation has continued its work in Bay Shore sponsoring the Christmas party, a summer camp, college scholarships, and trips to see shows in the city.

It has also provided major funding for Adventures in Learning, our church's after school program for at-risk kids. This money furnished computers, furniture, books, and annual tickets for the children to see A Christmas Carol, the circus, and the Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular. The highlight of each summer occurred when Chris got the Manhasset Adventures in Learning children and the Bay shore children together, 600 people in all, to go see a Mets game.

It seemed that wherever a need in our town existed, Chris was there. Providing funds for a baseball field; helping the Committee Against Substance Abuse; providing scholarships for AAU basketball; serving on the Tower Foundation to help our schools.

Chris' support for education ran deep, and extended far beyond his hometown. He established scholarships at the University of North Carolina where he served on the board of directors, Union College, New York University Law School where he was a trustee, as well as scholarships for students graduating from Bay Shore High School and children from Adventures in Learning graduating from Manhasset High School. Chris was committed to helping persons with mental illness and supported the work of his friend Sister Pat at Mercy Haven, where he served on the advisory board as well.

Chris caught the true spirit of Christian love, the true spirit of A Christmas Carol. It's not how much we make. It's how much we give. It's not how much pain exists in our world. It's whether or not we will lay down our lives as bridges for the benefit of others. And now may we honor Chris' memory by choosing as he did - to build bridges of comfort and hope in our homes, our neighborhoods, and our world. And may we learn to do it as he did - in a big, big way. Amen.

Written by Rev. Jimmy Only

Edited by Colleen Brown Only

Sept. 22, 2001

The Congregational Church of Manhasset (UCC)