Michelle Titolo
[Originally posted September 11, 2006, at Vince aut Morire as part of the 2996 Project.]
I could find you there
Pulled away before your time
I can’t deal it’s so unfair
Michelle Titolo, the attractive face you see in this photo, was an equity controller for Cantor Fitzgerald. She lived in Copiague, New York, and worked on the 101st floor of Tower #1 of the World Trade Center.
From what I’ve been able to glean from searches, Michelle was born May 25th, 1967. Almost exactly one month before I was.
According to this, the last time anyone heard from Michelle was at 7:30 a.m. September 11th, 2001.
Since deciding to join the 2996 Project, and getting assigned to honor Michelle Titolo, I’ve thought long and hard just how best to do that. I’ve spent I don’t know how much time just sitting here, staring at that picture, waiting for answers to questions that I knew would never come. Well, one answer always came. Michelle was an equity controller for Cantor Fitzgerald and she worked, and was murdered, at the WTC on 9/11.
Not much of a tribute to write. So I decided to leave it up to the experts, as it were. The best way for me to pay tribute to Michelle Titolo is to reprint some of the words left by her family and friends. So now I’ll just step out of the way and let them speak.
August 1, 2002
My dearest sister,
We miss you, mom, Tara, Alan… all of us. We’d just really gotten close in the times recent before you death and as I sat in school watching the building burn in the middle of second hour… There was a dread that gripped my heart, hope took over, and grief sank back into second possition. Even for days after… There was that hope… That single prayer… Even as I suffered from a fractured hand after punching a wall in anger… But no. We shouldn’t mourn your death in anger. In a sense we should smile and pray for you, for we know you’re now one of Heaven’s greatest angels. The fountain is beautiful like Anne said. It’s waters gleam so beautifully… Some have said it’s like angel’s tears. I’ve calmly replied “no, why should they weep? They should rejoice for she’s amongst them now.” and they agree. I made it worlds with Dreamer & she’s expecting a foal for may of 2004, your name is going to be issued in that legacy… Michelle’s Dreaming Threnody, the next Top Line Performance Stables champion. Since you’ve died I’ve been writing a lot more, my poetry has been published and mom never ceases to smile at the words I scrawl across the paper. It’s a sad smile though. She misses you so much. We all do. I’ve taken up the pen name “The Mockingbird” since after staying out for a dusk trail ride & listening to it’s sad song, it reminded me of how I felt & when I asked “what kind of bird is that?” & getting the response… I knew it was only right. Farewell Michelle.
September 12, 2005
I love and miss you so much Michelle. It has been four years since you were ripped away from us…it may as well be only 4 minutes. I read your name with the siblings yesterday and promise you that I will keep your memory alive as long as I live. You will NEVER be forgotten. Love always, your sister
September 12, 2003
What more can I say than has already been said about you Michelle. One thing I can say is that I am a richer person for having had known you and for being one of the truly lucky ones in this world that has been able to call you my friend. You were a rare angel put on this earth that had such an amazing ability to share and spread your joy and zest for life to any and all that were around you.
I can’t even begin to say how unbelievably lucky I feel to have found you and our friendship again. Our mini “Finley Freaks” reunion in the summer of 2001 was nothing short of amazing and I can’t remember laughing as hard as we did after reviewing some of the pictures over at Lori’s house. I can’t help but mourn the loss of your physical presence on this earth, but I am comforted by the fact that I know you’re still around, watching over us all with that most amazing smile of yours.
Within our hearts and memories you will always live.
September 11, 2002
I worked with Michelle at Sakura Global Capital. We quickly became dear friends and I miss her everyday. She had an incredible ability to make people feel better than they were. She saw the good in everything and never stopped smiling. She had the greatest laugh. I miss hearing her giggle. I can still hear her voice coming across my answering machine telling me she purchased a home and had finally got her dream job. I know how happy she was. I’m glad she had an oppertunity to make her dreams come true. She inspired others to do the same, it gave her great pleasure. I am blessed to have had such an incredible friend in my life. Today I can’t stop thinking of her. I know Michelles sister Kim and her family love her more than anyone can know. My thoughts are with Kim and the rest of the family today. God bless you all, hold tightly to each other today and always.
May 23, 2002
For all the years I have known Michelle, even through the lost ones,she remains the one person who kept a smile as big as the tower she worked in. When our paths finally came full circle it was as if we never parted. She will always remain an amazing young woman to me. Her ability to make people comfortable around each other, even when they didn’t want to be around one another, was a gift.A gift that I feel was sent from heaven.God chooses the special ones and he was on the money with Michelle! All her ups and downs made her stronger and love life more. I am a better person for having known her. I truly miss her! She will forever be in my heart as the hearts of the lucky people who knew her. God bless her and her family.
Michelle, I never knew you, although I think we would’ve gotten along pretty well. May your family take some comfort from knowing that there are many people like me, who they have never, and probably will never, meet, who think about you every day, and keep your memory in our hearts.
I’ll say a special prayer for the health and prosperity of the family that loved you so much, and no doubt still misses you horribly even after 5 years. Watch over them and keep them safe.
Scott says:
God bless you Michelle Titolo! And may he bless your family and friends with some sense of comfort as they are left devastated from your untimely and senseless death from those who share from the hand of evil. Lovely lady, I honor your memory.
Larry Herzman says:
It’s still hurts…. Miss ya kiddo…
Beth says:
Larry, I’m so sorry for your loss. I’m sure it never gets easier, especially with the constant reminders of that day.
I’m glad you “found” her again today and were able to express your feelings; her spirit surely knows that she is still loved and missed because of it. She really does sound like she was someone special, someone I know I’d have loved to call a friend.
May God bless you and all Michelle’s loved ones on this day, and always.
Vinnie says:
Larry, my heart aches for the loss of Michelle to the world. Take some comfort from the notion that we’ll all meet someday in a better place.
But not yet, not yet.
raz0r says:
Too many hearts broken and lives shattered in the name of hatred/islam.
God be with each and everyone of those who lost someone that day. May His peace be upon them and His Spirit comfort them.
Tia Lurie says:
I really want to thank someone for taking the time to put this project together. Michelle was someone unbelievably special. 6 years ago I lost my sister, someone who cannot be replaced. For those that never knew her; I’m sorry you never got the chance to meet someone so loving, caring, and unselfish as her. To those of you who were lucky to have her in your life, if even for one brief moment; I mourn with you each passing second of each passing day. There’s nothing more that we can do other then cherish the time we had with, good and bad, and never forget her.
The night before she died she was sitting in the kitchen of the first house she’d ever bought and was redoing the floors. She called my mother and was babbling away about how happy she was she was finally able to never have to rent again. She was saying how good her job was and how she loved it there… And then tragedy struck. This was a person who I clearly remember not being able to afford individual gifts one year at Christmas so she bought a small fake tree and clothes pinned money onto it so at least everyone could have something. This was a person who when our youngest sibling was having trouble learning how to read, took out a great deal of money to find her help.
I hope I’ve helped to paint a bigger picture of the smiling face that’s still to this day so very loved.
Michelle? I love you so very very much. You’re still a part of everything I do, still an integral part of the lives of those who were touched by your presence. We’ll never forget you.
Your sister forever,
-Tia
Merri says:
Tia,
Know that we will never forget Michelle, either. Everything you said about her is something I believe I inherently already knew, just looking at her picture, her smile. What a beautiful person, inside and out!
God bless you and your family. You have a very special angel looking over you, protecting you as you move through this life. I know there will be a day when you will see her smiling face again.