UML Honors Local 9/11 Victims at Remembrance Ceremony

On Thursday morning, UMass Lowell (UML) held a 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony honoring the seven members of the university community and all other victims of the terrorist attacks. The ceremony marked the 20th anniversary of the tragedy, which is this Saturday, Sept. 11.

The outdoor ceremony took place at “Unity,” UMass Lowell’s outdoor memorial sculpture to the victims of Sept. 11, located on the banks of the Merrimack River. The memorial is inscribed with the names of those with ties to UML who perished on Sept. 11, 2001: Douglas Gowell ’71 of Methuen; Robert Hayes ’86 of Amesbury; Brian Kinney ’95 of Lowell; John Ogonowski ’72 of Dracut, who was the pilot of American Airlines Flight 11; Patrick Quigley IV of Wellesley, the husband of alumna Patricia Quigley ’86; Billerica native Jessica Leigh Sachs, daughter of UML alumni Stephen and Karen Sachs ’69; and Christopher Zarba ’79 of Hopkinton.

Attendees of the event included members of the victims’ families, U.S. Rep. Lori Trahan, state Rep. Thomas Golden, a UML graduate; UML Chancellor Jacquie Moloney; Campus Minister Rev. Imogene Stulken; and National Park Service Acting Deputy Regional Director Celeste Bernardo.

During the event, UML students read brief biographical tributes to each of the seven members of the UML community who were victims of the attacks. In addition to the individuals, the university recently learned that UML graduate Ryan D. Fortini, a retired New York state police trooper passed away on Jan. 1, 2020, from illnesses stemming from his assignment aiding in search and recovery efforts at the World Trade Center. Chancellor Moloney honored him in her speech.

The UML Chamber Singers and music students Olivia Minchello of Lowell and Cristian Ramos Delgado of Methuen performed the national anthem and other selections during the event.