Gary Albero was a 39-year-old insurance broker for Aon Corporation, located in the World Trade Center; he was a resident of Emerson, New Jersey; and he was a victim of the terrorist attacks which took the lives of so many on September 11, 2001.
Reading the posts on his memorial at Legacy.com made me cry in sympathy for his family and friends. Gary was a husband and a father. One of his neighbors saw him a week before his death. He shouted, “It’s my beautiful wife’s 40th birthday!!!” That really gives me insight into the kind of husband he must have been.
I’ll let the quotes from his family speak as a testimony to his life:
From his wife:
My husband was my best friend, he loved unconditionally. Gary was a super friendly person and as a result had many friends. He liked people, sports and music. I will always remember Gary as a very happy person who wanted to help people. He will be greatly missed, but his spirit lives on in our son and our hearts. Our loss is heaven’s gain.
From his mother:
(Yankee Fan Gary Albero – NYT 11/2/01) It was a wonderful article but it didn’t completely capture the essence of the man. From the moment he learned to speak, at a very early age, he was hilarious. When I needed to complete a chore, I would have to turn to my “off” button. When he and his wife purchased their house, he knew everyone in the neighborhood before they moved in. When we moved with me into a new house when he was still in college, I would go to the local shopkeepers, and they woudl say “you must be Mrs. Albero.” Gary knew and shared with everyone — even my description I guess. He was a beloved man. But I want to say for the New York Yankees, he was your biggest fan. When I watched the games on Wednesday and Thursday night, I could see Gary cheering and yelling “yea” and celebrating into the night. I hope wherever he is that he got to enjoy some of your greatest moments.
The following profile was published in THE NEW YORK TIMES on November 2, 2001:
Helping the Unfortunate
Never judge a broker by his collar. Take Gary Albero. He was a good insurance broker: urbane and vigorous, and he could sell. That’s what led him to 2 World Trade Center for a breakfast meeting. But it was not the money or the numbers that appealed to him, said his wife, Aracelis. “He liked talking,” she said. “He liked people and the job fit him.”
Consider the private life of Gary Albero, who was 39 and lived in Emerson, N.J. He often volunteered at a local homeless shelter and sometimes slept there because he was interested in the lives of the homeless. He would come home, put on a white collar and go off to conquer Wall Street.
Gary Albero met a boy some years ago who came from a troubled family. Mr. Albero took him under his wing, took him to ball games and coached him in football.
When it was time for the young man to go off to college, Mr. Albero was there to help pack his belongings and drive him to his dormitory. They hugged; the man gave the boy some money and reminded him that he could be anything he wanted to be.
The Alberos had their own child, a boy, a year and a half ago. “That was the happiest day of his life,” Mrs. Albero said.
He was a man who is missed and loved. Friends remember his birthday and post comments on his memorial on that day. May God comfort those who miss him and mourn his loss.
View the entire 2,996 list of participants.
2,996 is a tribute to the victims of 9/11.
On September 11, 2006, 2,996 volunteer bloggers
will join together for a tribute to the victims of 9/11.
Each person will pay tribute to a single victim.
We will honor them by remembering their lives,
and not by remembering their murderers.
Here are my personal memories of this day:
- From a 2006 post
- 10 years later
What a nice tribute to him. It makes it seem more personal somehow to read the individual stories of the people who died that day. I can’t believe it’s been so long – seems like it happend last week, doesn’t it?
You did a very nice tribute – I’m sure his family would be pleased.
What a wonderful insight into this precious man’s life. . .thank you, Dawn.
What a lovely tribute. Mine is up.
A very touching tribute. I posted mine today. Please stop by.
What a great testiment to a wonderful life!
Thank you for bringing to life the love he had for his family. Very moving post. My tribute Gilbert also worked for AON.
Please stop by and leave a link and comment so that others can read this post.
Well done too….these are all done so well.
This was a great tribute! Thank you for writing it!
my tribute to Adam K. Ruhalter is up on my site. Please stop by.
Welldone. What a loss. My tribute is up at Miss Cellania
That was a really beautiful tribute! You did him and his family proud. Thanks for stopping by my tribute to Marjorie C. Salamone.
so nice.. all of these are killing me today. my tribute is up
Wonderful tribute. This project has really touched me. I’m honored to be a part of it.
Such a beautiful tribute. Thank you for sharing.
A very nice tribute to a man that seemed to be so full of life. Thank you for remembering him.
We will never forget.
Thank you for bringing a face and a personality to one of the 2,996 names. This was a great tribute!
Wonderful tribute to Gary. My tribute is to Lt General Maude who was killed at the Pentagon. They were both good men doing their jobs to make things better for the rest of us. God bless them.
What a beautiful tribute to a beautiful man. We lost so many souls that day who gave so much to us.
Pleade read my tribute to Major Dwayne Williams, lost at the Pentagon.
This is a beautiful post. I hope his son is doing ok. My Dad died when I was 5, I was 8 when the towers came down. I know how hard it is for the kids. I hope someday I will meet a man as nice as Mr. Albero. Even more, I hope someday I will BE a man as nice as Mr. Albero. I hope his family finds your tribute – because it is beautiful.
It is wonderful to see Gary is not forgotten. We was a kind, warm and wonderful person. I loved him for the person he was, he was such a good friend. Thank you for remembering this man. We was a beautiful soul.
Hello,
Unfortunately, I do not know Gary, but was a fellow AON colleage. I volunteer my time at Ground Zero, and today I have selected Gary as the first of the 176 people killed, to remember and honor his spirit. I will show his picture and ask the public to remember Gary and will share the NY Times article.
I am a survivor of the 2001 attack and my purpose is simply to remember at least one specific person as I walk along the hallowed grounds of this site.
May God Bless Gary’s family and friends. My hope is that we can live our lives in memory of those left behind.
Sincerely,
Susan S. Wylie
Surivivor of WTC 92nd floor.
Always & forever in my heart. A great co-worker and awesome friend. Caring and loving. So many years have passed but the bright and beautiful energy of who you where will always remain and sometimes can still be felt. You are an angel somewhere because in this life you earned your wings. Blessed Be.
It’s great to hear more about these people and it’s a reminder of the things we can choose to leave behind when we’re no longer here. What is it that people will remember of us? How can we live every day to make those memories, and our legacy, the best it can be…and how can we touch more lives? thanks for sharing. ~Mary