On September 11, 2001, around 9:45 a.m., in the midst of second period, Bro. Richard Hartz, S.M. ’59, ran up to the school roof and captured a wave of smoke rising on the Manhattan horizon. It was a moment that would change everything.

Today the Chaminade Family comes together to acknowledge the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. With the passing of time comes space to grieve, reflect, and honor the loss and sacrifice of that day. The events of 9/11 remain close to the hearts of many in the Chaminade community. Fifteen alumni died on that day. More than 75 Chaminade families lost someone they loved. The Chaminade motto, Fortes in Unitate – Strength in Unity – represents more than words, but action and steadfast support for those most affected on that day. It is a lived reality, a fraternity that remains at the heart of everything Chaminade does.

“A Chaminade education can never simply be about achievement,” states President Bro. Thomas Cleary, S.M. ’81. “It must be about what we do with what we have been given: our talents, education, and faith. We remember best not simply by recalling how people died, but by choosing how we will live. Memory is not simply about looking backward…memory carries a responsibility forward.”

“I was a freshman, and we had just finished 3C Week,” reflects Robert Gassmann, 2005 graduate and current director of maintenance and facilities for the school. “I was not a student long enough to even know what Fortes in Unitate was yet, but it was apparent right away how united we all were and still are. I remember the support that the brothers and teachers showed for the students at that time, and it really was the beginning of my own faith and the mission of this school.”

For those most affected, the Chaminade name became more than a school, but a place for transformation.

“My brother Mike ’82 was an attorney for Marsh and was on the 99th floor of his North Tower office that morning. We miss him greatly,” says Thomas Cahill ’83. “There is probably not a single family who has avoided some type of loss or heartbreak over these past 25 years, and I think Chaminade has always been ready to help when someone in the community experiences loss or faces hardship. Chaminade’s response to September 11 has been grounded in action, including preparing the next generation for the world’s challenges. Seeing Mike’s son Conor graduate from Chaminade in 2014 – and then my own son in 2021 – was a true blessing.”

That day continues to imprint on the hearts of those who lived through it. Fr. Garrett Long, S.M. ’62, who served as the school’s chaplain at the time, reflects on the gravity of that day. “We had to turn to Christ; students, teachers, and staff were constantly going into the school chapel to pray. Our work in the days afterwards became a ministry of presence, of comfort, and of letting people know they were not alone. Every school year since has remembered the day through intentional prayer.” For the 25th anniversary, Chaminade will host a time for remembrance as the entire student body prays the rosary.

To commemorate is to show honor and respect for those we have lost. It is an action coupled with the persistent weight of love that carries us forward, each and every day, in the spirit of community. While many memorials have occurred over the years, one token of remembrance represents the beauty of fraternity from the student body who lived through the attack. In the weeks following, the Marianist community, facilitated by Bro. Timothy Driscoll, S.M. ’76, developed a memorial book that houses the names of all known members of the Chaminade Family who died. Each name is written in calligraphy, hand-drawn, and surrounded by borders colored by students at the time. This memorial book remains at Chaminade and serves as a special object for communal remembrance.

“We are rooted in a brotherhood that spans generations, that goes beyond the walls of Chaminade, that even extends beyond this life,” reflects Bro. Thomas. And so, for this anniversary, and for every moment after, we never forget. The Chaminade community is fortified in the love of God, the love that moves everything, the love that transforms remembrance out of the past into the present. Fortes in Unitate, Strength in Unity: a motto, a calling, a challenge, a lived reality.

–
Michael Cahill ’82
James Connor ’81
Michael Horn ’91
George Howard ’75
Jake Jagoda ’95
Sean Lynch ’83
Brian Magee ’67
Patrick McGuire ’78
Robert McLaughlin ’90
Edward Papa ’72
Christopher Slattery ’88
Michael Tamuccio ’82
Matthew Vianna ’96
William Wilson ’61
John Wright ’85

Fathers of students at the time:

Joseph Dickey, father of Joseph ’02
William Dimmling, father of Gregory ’05
William Gardner, father of Gregory ’03
Charles Waters, father of Charles ’05

Lord, for your faithful ones, life is changed, not ended. May they rest in peace!