Remembering Unitarian Universalists who perished or are missing in the tragic events of September 11, 2001*
William G. Sinkford, President of the Unitarian Universalist Association; Diane Olson, Moderator; and the Board and Staff of the UUA join members of Unitarian Universalist congregations around the world in mourning the loss of these Unitarian Universalists and all those who perished or are missing after the Sept. 11 disasters.
Craig Amundson
Mr. Amundson, aged 28, US Army enlisted staff, was killed in the Pentagon terrorist bombing. Mr. Amundson, his wife Amber, and their children attended the Mt. Vernon Unitarian Church beginning in 1999. The Rev. Linda Olson Peebles, who served Mt. Vernon as Minister of Religious Education, recalls, "The Amundsons become very committed to learning about Unitarian Universalism, and Craig's favorite book was Our Chosen Faith. He always carried copies of the UU Principles in his wallet to hand to friends who asked him about his faith."In addition to his wife, Mr. Amundson leaves his two young children Elliott (age 5) and Charlotte (age 2) as well as his parents and two brothers. Mr. Amundson was remembered at a memorial service on Sept. 29 at the Unitarian Univeralist Church of Arlington, VA. The Rev. Linda Olson Peebles officiated. He was buried with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery. Text from the memorial service can be read here.
"A widow's plea for non-violence"
by Amber Amundson, Chicago Tribune"Touched by tragedy on September 11th, a UU searches for peace"
Read the story of how tragedy has mobilized Amber Amundson to become a crusader for peace. The Boston Globe
Keith Coleman
Scott Coleman
The Coleman brothers are sons of Westport, CT, residents Neil and Jean Coleman and brothers of Todd Coleman. Keith and Scott Coleman worked on the 104th floor of the North Tower of the World Trade Center for the bond trading firm of Cantor Fitzgerald, and are among the missing. The Coleman parents are long time members of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Westport, CT. Scott Coleman resided in New York City; Keith Coleman leaves his wife Elodie and his two children, Vaughan and Neva, and resided in New Jersey.
A memorial service for Keith and Scott Coleman was held on
Saturday, October 20, 2001 at 5:00 PM at The Unitarian Church in Westport, 10 Lyons Plains Road, Westport, CT. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to: The Coleman Brothers' Fund, c/o The Unitarian Church in Westport, 10 Lyons Plains Road, Westport, CT 06880. For more information call the Church at 203-227-7205.
Charles Falkenberg
Leslie Whittington (Falkenberg)
Zoe Falkenberg, aged 8
Dana Falkenberg, aged 3
The Falkenbergs, of Hyattsville, MD, were en route to Canberra, Australia, on the flight from Dulles International Airport that crashed into the Pentagon. Mr. Falkenberg was an engineer with the firm Ecologic; Ms. Whittington was an associate professor of public policy at Georgetown University and was to be a visiting professor at the Australian National University in Canberra. Their older daughter, Zoe, had attended UUMAC (Unitarian Universalist Mid-Atlantic Conference) camps; Ms. Whittington's mother and stepfather, Ruth and George Koch, are longtime members of the UU Fellowship of Athens, GA, where Dana Falkenberg was also dedicated.A memorial service was held at Holy Trinity Church on Sept. 17 for the Georgetown University community to remember Ms. Whittington and her family, the Rev. Barbara Wells (co-minister, Paint Branch Unitarian Universalist Church) officiating. A memorial service to remember the entire family was held at 4:00 PM on Sept. 24 at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Silver Spring, MD, co-officiated by the Revs. Elizabeth Lerner, Jaco ten Hove, and Barbara Wells. Text from the service can be read here.
More Information:
by The Washington Post: "Letters of Comfort to Family's Friends" and "Family Was Starting Excited Adventure"
by CNN.com: "Coping with loss, children find comfort in each other"
Valerie J. Hanna, 57, of Ithaca, NY, worked on the 97th floor of North World Trade Center as a Senior Vice President of Marsh & McLennan Companies, a risk and insurance management firm, in data processing and operations. Married to Glenn Hughes of Freeville, NY, Ms. Hanna commuted intoManhattan on Mondays, returning to the Ithaca, NY area on Fridays. Ms. Hanna and Mr. Hughes attended the First Unitarian Society of Ithaca, NY. Born in the Philadelphia area and a graduate of Farleigh Dickinson University, Ms. Hanna leaves her mother, Joanne Haviland, stepfather, Richard Haviland; her siblings Sherman Hanna of Columbus, OH, Barbara Hanna of Banning, CA, and Kathleen Hanna of Queensbury, NY; her children Lydia Robertson of New York City and Denene Robertson Ray of Charlotte, NC; her ex-husband, the Rev. Frank Robertson of Plymouth, MA; and three grandchildren. Her son Joel Robertson predeceased her.
A memorial service was held at 1 PM on September 30 at the First Unitarian Society of Ithaca, the Rev. Stanley Sears officiating. Memorial contributions may be made to local affiliates of National Public Radio, the American Red Cross, or Planned Parenthood Federation of America.
Edward Hennessy, 35, of Belmont, MA, was a passenger on American Airlines flight #11 that crashed into the World Trade Center. A new member of the The First Church in Belmont, MA, Mr. Hennessy was a graduate of Harvard University and a consultant with Time-Warner Inc. Memorial services were held on Sept. 17 at St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church in Belmont. The Rev. Victor Carpenter, minister of First Church, and the Rev. Albert Saretra, pastor of St. Joseph's Church, co-officiated along with the Rev. Charles Colwell, an Episcopal priest. Mr. Hennessy leaves his wife Melanie Salisbury, and his children Rachel, 6 and Matthew, 3. Memorial gifts may be made to an education fund to benefit the children, c/o Ted Hennessy, Sr., 163 Goden Street, Belmont MA, 02478.
Richard Myhre worked for the bond trading firm of Cantor Fitzgerald on the 101st-105th floors of the North Tower of the World Trade Center. Rich and his brother, Dave, grew up in Commack, NY; he was married to his wife, Gail, at the Unitarian Universalist church in Staten Island, NY. He leaves his wife and 2-1/2 year-old son, Jonathan. A memorial service was conducted on Sept. 29, 2001 at the UU Church of Staten Island, the Rev. Ben Bortin officiating.
Todd Ouida, 25, was the son of Herb and Andrea Ouida of River Edge, NJ. Todd, a graduate of the University of Michigan, worked with the bond trading firm of Cantor Fitzgerald on the 101st-105th floors of the North Tower of the World Trade Center . Todd grew up in the Central Unitarian Church of Paramus, NJ; he was a graduate of the congregation's religious education program and affirmation (coming of age) class. He is survived by his parents; a brother, Jordan; a sister, Amy; and was a beloved godfather to his niece Ashley, whose first birthday is Sept. 23rd. A memorial service was held at 2 PM on Sept. 30th at the Central Unitarian Church, the Rev. Justin Osterman officiating. The family has requested that memorial contributions be made c/o:
Todd Joseph Ouida Memorial Children's Fund
Community Foundation of New Jersey
PO Box 317
Morristown, NJ 07963-0317
