Hofstra University Remembers

At the Memorial Service on November 28, 2001, Chairman of the Board of Trustees Jay Conefry mentioned twenty individual members of the Hofstra family who were lost to us on September 11th and spoke a few words about each one. We would like them to be remembered as gifted members of the Hofstra community. They will always be a part of Hofstra history.

Mr. Kenneth M. Caldwell, Class of 1993 was a Brooklyn Heights resident who worked as an account representative for Alliance Consulting. While at Hofstra, he enjoyed entertaining fellow students through dance, comedy, and theater. More recently he served as a mentor for the New York Boys and Girls club.

Mr. Jason M. Cefalu, Class of 1994 was an active member of Hofstra's Young Republicans. Jason was a bond trader for Cantor Fitzgerald who lived in Manhattan and continued to nurture his passionate interest in politics. He was also an avid fisherman who enjoyed excursions to Long Beach and trips to Key West.

Mr.Jeffrey M. Dingle, MBA student 1996-1999 lived in the Bronx and worked for Encompys, a Manhattan start-up software company. He was an accomplished student athlete who was named an All-American at West Hempstead High School in football and track, and he continued to excel at these sports while a student at Villanova University.

Mr. Andrew Fisher, Class of 1983 served as head of sales for Imagine Software. While the New York City resident was a Hofstra student he was a founding member of the University's prestigious AIESEC International Business Society and an outstanding swimmer.

Mr. Richard P. Fitzsimons, Class of 1978 was a resident of Lynbrook who served as Fire Safety Director for the World Trade Center. He had just completed evacuating the children from the Day Care Center and was last seen heading toward a sub-basement in the World Trade Center to assist in the rescue effort.

Mr. Joseph G. Hunter, Class of 1994 realized his lifelong dream of becoming a fire fighter, and he loved his job. He graduated from the NY City Fire Department Academy in 1996. He belonged to NYFD Squad 288 in Maspeth, Queens. Previously he was a volunteer with the South Hempstead Fire Department.

Ms. Alisha C. Levin, Class of 1990 was human resources director for Fuji Bank. She participated in many extracurricular activities while a Hofstra student and was a sister of Sigma Sigma Sigma Sorority. Following her graduation from Hofstra, she earned her master's degree from Teachers College at Columbia University.

Mr. Neil D. Levin, Law School Class of 1981 and a member of Hofstra's Board of Trustees. He served as executive director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. He received the Law Dean's Distinguished Alumni Award from Hofstra University in 1985.

Mr. Noell C. Maerz, Class of 1997 was a quarterback for the Hofstra football team. He was employed at Euro Brokers Inc. and resided in Long Beach. He was an excited father-to-be who had also been training to compete in the New York City Marathon.

Mr. Edward J. Mardovich, MBA 1983 president of Euro Brokers, Inc. He was born and raised in Jericho, Long Island and completed his undergraduate work at SUNY Stony Brook. He lived with his wife and four children in Lloyd Harbor.

Mr. Alok Mehta, second year MBA who was just beginning an internship with Cantor Fitzgerald. He lived in Hofstra's Twin Oaks apartments and came to the University from Littleton, Colorado.

Mr. Bernard E. Patterson, Clas of 1978 was a municipal bond trader for Cantor Fitzgerald and lived with his family in Upper Brookville. Earlier on in his career he and some fellow traders started their own successful bond trading firm, Municipal Partners, which was sold last year to Cantor Fitzgerald.

Mr. Edward J. Perrotta, Class of 1981 was a computer science major at Hofstra who served as vice president in the energy brokerage division of Cantor Fitzgerald. He enjoyed boating and fishing on the north and south shores of Long Island.

Mr. Andrew J. Stern, Class of 1982 was a broker in Cantor Fitzgerald's municipal bond department. He lived in Bellmore. Despite the long hours his job required, he found the energy for 4 a.m. morning workouts and coaching duties for his son's Little League team.

Mr. Frederick T. Varacchi, Class of 1988 lived in Greenwich, Connecticut. He served as chief operating officer for Cantor Fitzgerald and president and chief operating officer of eSpeed Inc. He enjoyed riding motorcycles and car racing and also coached his son's and daughter's lacrosse and soccer teams.

Mr. Joshua Vitale, Class of 1999 lived in Great Neck with his fiancee. He had recently passed the exam to become a trader and enjoyed the challenges of his job as a trading sales clerk at Cantor Fitzgerald.

Mr. Courney W. Walcott, Class of 1990 received his BS in electrical engineering. While a student he was a four-year letterman for the Hofstra football team. He was a manager of client services for IQ Financial Systems and lived in Hackensack, New Jersey. He spent much of his free time coaching sports and mentoring young people.

Mr. Glenn E. Wilkinson, Class of 1978 was active in sports and played football and lacrosse while at Hofstra. He was a courageous New York Fire Department Lieutenant for Engine Company 238 who was lost in the rescue effort. He lived with his family in Bayport, and it was his role as Dad that he enjoyed most in life.

Mr. Glenn J. Winuk, Law School Class of 1987 was a partner in the law firm of Holland & Knight. He had previously been a member of the Jericho Fire Department for 19 years, reaching the rank of lieutenant and serving as commissioner of the Jericho Fire District. He was last seen by his colleagues heading toward the World Trade Center hoping to assist other people.

Ms. Joni Cesta, was a graduate of Cornell University and Hofstra Law School. Since 1992, she worked as an in-house attorney at the Alan L. Sarroff Company, a securities firm in lower Manhattan. Joni loved nature and the outdoors, and Long Island?s Planting Fields Arboretum was one of her favorite places. She was an avid traveler. A Bellmore resident, Joni is survived by her husband, Adam Kriftcher, and her father, John Cesta, of Florida.

Ms. Julie Lynne Zipper, MBA 1984, MA 1987 worked for SunGard Trading Systems as a product manager of financial software developed for traders, and lived with her family in Paramus, New Jersey. She grew up on Long Island and completed her undergraduate studies at SUNY Binghamton.

It is possible that additional names may be added to this list.