09/10/2026
Did you know that 25 years after the horrors of 9/11, New Jersey still only has bare-minimum requirements for teaching our kids about that fateful day? It's taught alongside broader historical topics in high school only.
An entire generation of our students have no personal memory of the horrors that unfolded as the result of radical fanatics.
Like most of you, I can remember exactly where I was at on the fateful morning of September 11th, 2001. I was in my senior year at Texas Christian University, about 1500 miles away from my hometown of Point Beach, family and friends. I vividly remember turning on the tv after the first tower had been hit. I remember the images, the fear and uncertainty that followed on our campus. But I also remember the remarkable way our TCU community and entire nation came together, grieved together and stood united in the aftermath. I'll never forget.
That's why I introduced A-291, a bill that would require New Jersey schools to teach the history of September 11th and hold an annual commemorative event for students.
This would ensure our kids learn the historical context behind the attacks, a timeline of how the day unfolded, the heroism of first responders and the passengers of Flight 93. It will also touch on the wave of charity, volunteerism and unity that followed and how to carry those values forward.
As we mark 25 years since 9/11, we owe it to the nearly 3000 lives lost, and to every first responder and service member since, to make sure this generation understands why that day still matters.
Our children should never have to ask "what happened on 9/11?" They should already know the answer and understand why we still fight to protect the freedoms it threatened.
25 years later and for the rest of time, we remember, and vow to never forget. Here are the names and stories of the 15 heroic individuals who either were born, raised or lived in the 10th legislative district that perished during 9/11.
Ferdinand V. Morrone
May 25, 1938–September 11, 2001
Ferdinand V. “Fred” Morrone lived in Point Beach for many years before moving to Lakewood, not too long before Sept. 11, with his wife Linda. Together they had three children and two grandchildren. He worked as a police officer in Franklin Township before becoming a N.J. State Trooper. After retirement, he was superintendent of police with the Port Authority and working in his Jersey City office the morning of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. He drove into the city to help and was seen last in Tower One on the 45th floor. He was 63.
Brian Thomas Cummins
January 6, 1963–September 11, 2001
Brian Thomas Cummins was born in Somerville, the fourth of six boys, and lived in Manasquan. He was an avid skier and surfer. He worked at Cantor Fitzgerald since 1993, surviving the first terrorist attack and working his way up to equity market maker and partner. He worked on the 104th floor of One World Trade Center. He was 38.
Michael D. Diehl
October 1, 1952–September 11, 2001
Michael D. Diehl, of Brick, was a vice president with Fiduciary Trust International with an office on the 90th floor of Tower Two. A devoted father to his two children, Jason, 20, and Jeannette, 15, he and his wife, Lois, worked hard but enjoyed the little things. He was 48 years old.
Patricia Mary Fagan
July 21, 1946–September 11, 2001
Patricia Fagan, of Toms River, treated everyone she met as if she'd known them all her life. And so, when she died on Sept. 11, she left behind not only a beloved younger sister, Eileen, and father, Thomas, but a river of friends as well. She worked as an insurance claims officer with Aon on the 93rd floor of Two World Trade Center. She was a communicant of St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church in Toms River and volunteered as a greeter for Saturday evening mass. She was 55 years old.
Thomas F. Hughes, Jr.
March 29, 1955–September 11, 2001
Thomas F. Hughes Jr. lived with his wife, Rosanne, and their children Ashley, 15, and Patrick, 12, in Spring Lake Heights. He owned Colonial Art Decorators, a New York City-based painting and decorating company. The morning of Sept. 11, 2001, he was scheduled for a brief meeting with a client at Windows on the World. He was 46.
Robert Clinton Kennedy
December 11, 1945–September 11, 2001
Robert C. Kennedy, of Toms River, took his two daughters to work at Marsh & McLennan before it was the thing to do, said his wife of 32 years, Maureen. He loved to laugh and his view from the World Trade Center. He was 55 years old.
Christopher E. Lunder
June 10, 1967–September 11, 2001
Christopher E. Lunder worked at Cantor Fitzgerald as a bond broker and loved to entertain. With the strong encouragement of his wife, Karen, he converted their home in Manasquan into Backyard-Barbecue Central. Friends would come to join in the celebration, mingling together at the home dubbed "Club Lunder." He renewed his commitment to fun by buying a 37-foot boat, christened "KC," an appropriate name given that Karen and Christopher had been together for so long. "He worked hard, he played hard, he liked the best of the best, and he was so cute,” Karen said. Between sobs she added: "And he left me with a beautiful place." He was 34 years old.
Charles William Mathers
July 2, 1940–September 11, 2001
Charles Mathers, a managing director at Marsh & McLennan, had a quiet sparkle that attracted innumerable friends, clients and employees. As a young man he served in the Navy for six years, much of it in a nuclear submarine. In Sea Girt, where he and Margaret, his wife of 39 years, raised three children, he was a volunteer firefighter for a quarter-century. He traveled around the world, consulting on insurance for utilities, including nuclear power plants. He was 61.
James Joseph McAlary, Jr.
February 3, 1959–September 11, 2001
James Joseph McAlary Jr. lived with his wife Jeanne and their three children—Jillian, Joseph and James—in Spring Lake Heights. He coached Little League when his daughter showed an interest in softball. He was a heating-oil trader at Carr Futures and worked in the North Tower. He was 42.
James Thomas Murphy
December 8, 1965–September 11, 2001
James Thomas Murphy, was born in Point Pleasant and lived in Middletown. He was a Cantor Fitzgerald trader with a huge family, who were also his friends. He and his wife, Mary, had two children and were expecting a third. He had 10 brothers and sisters and 13 nieces and nephews. He was 35 years old.
Alfonse Joseph Niedermeyer
April 17, 1961–September 11, 2001
Alfonse J. Niedermeyer III lived with his wife Nancy and son A.J. in Manasquan. Their daughter, Angelica Joy, was born in May 2002. He was a 16-year veteran with the Port Authority and helped with the rescue of passengers from US Air flight 405 when it skidded off a runway at LaGuardia Airport. He was helping to rescue people from the South Tower the morning of Sept. 11, 2001. He was 40.
Donald Arthur Peterson
April 26, 1935–September 11, 2001
Flight 93 Passenger
Jean Hoadley Peterson
May 20, 1946–September 11, 2001
Flight 93 Passenger
Donald Arthur Peterson, 66, and Jean Hoadley Peterson, 55, lived in Spring Lake. They were both parents to three children each from previous marriages. Donald was the retired president of Continental Electric Company in New Jersey, and Jean a retired registered nurse. They were switched to Flight 93 and heading to a family trip to Yosemite National Park. Don’s Bible was found at the crash site.
Jim Sands, Jr.
May 24, 1963–September 11, 2001
Jim Sands Jr. lived in Brick with his wife of five years, Jennifer. With his wife, he had a passion for scuba diving and underwater photography and planned to move to Grand Cayman to start a diving career. He was a strategic development engineer for Cantor Fitzgerald’s eSpeed. He was 38. His wife has written several books on their plans and her journey as a 9/11 widow.
Christopher Michael Traina
June 28, 1976–September 11, 2001
Christopher Traina, of Brick, worked in the North Tower on the 92nd floor of the World Trade Center for Carr Futures. He is remembered by all who knew him as a loving, caring person who loved life and especially fishing. He was 25 years old.
