In Memoriam...

The Sept. 11 memorial in front of Parsippany's Town Hall was the brainchild of Freeholder Ann Grossi. A member of the Township Council at the time, Grossi said she remembers seeing the countywide memorial erected at the Morris County Fire Academy, which is within town limits, and feeling dissatisfied. She decided that Parsippany should have its own memorial. In 2007, it was decided to convert the existing planter in front of the municipal building into a memorial to honor those lost in the attacks. Grossi said that the town's Business Administrator Jasmine Lim, who ordered supplies for the project, was a big part of the effort. The finished project was unveiled in time for Sept. 11, 2007.

"Like everybody else, I was very touched, saddened and frightened when the towers fell," said Grossi. "The victims were just everyday people going to work to support their families. They symbolize America. It's important to honor people who have died for us."

Parsippany Patch joins with the rest of the community in mourning all of those who were lost, including these with a Parsippany connection.

Martin Boryczewski
Age:  29
Work:  institutional sales trader, Cantor Fitzgerald
Lived In: Parsippany
In Brief: Graduated from Morris Catholic High School. Attended Saint Peter's College. 

Antoinette Duger
Age:  44
Work: Operations Associate, First Union Corp.
Lived In: Belleville
In Brief: Attended Barringer High School in Newark. Worked for First Union for 26 years, starting as a clerical worker. At the time of the attacks, Duger and her husband reportedly had plans to move to Parsippany with their then-8-year-old daughter so that their child could receive a quality education. Raymond Duger carried out his wife's wish: Their now-18-year-old graduated from Parsippany High School as a member of the Class of 2011.

Jason Kyle Jacobs
Age: 32
Work: business partner, Fiduciary Trust International
Lived In:  Mendham
From: Randolph
In Brief:   Lived a portion of his life in Parsippany. Married, one child.

Michael J. Pescherine
Age:  32
Work:  bond trader, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods
Lived In: New York City
From: Denville
In Brief:  Graduated from Parsippany High School with honors in 1987. Earned his bachelor's degree and a master's in business finance at Penn State University. Married.

Thomas Polhemus
Age: 39
Work:  computer systems analyst and programmer, Acccenture
Lived In: Morris Plains
From:  born in Passaic; raised in Bridgewater
In Brief: Earned associates degree at Raritan Valley Community College. Worked for Accenture in Parsippany until he was moved to the World Trade Center offices a few weeks prior to Sept, 11, 2011. Married. 

Maria Theresa Santillan
Age:  27
Work:  customer service representative, Cantor Fitzgerald/eSpeed
Lived In:  Morris Plains
In Brief:  Earned her bachelor's degree in biology at Rutgers University. Was engaged to marry her Parsippany Hills High School sweetheart at the time of her death. Her cousin, Judy Hazel Fernandez of Sayerville, also worked for Cantor Fitzgerald and was set to be maid of honor at Santillan's wedding in May 2002. Both cousins perished in the towers.

Michael C. Sorresse
Age: 34
Work:  vice president, Euro Brokers/Marsh USA Insurance Agencies
Lived In: Parsippany
From: Whippany
In Brief: Graduated from Whippany Park High School. Earned his bachelors degree at Rutgers University and a master's in business economics from Fairleigh Dickinson University.