Frank Bennett Reisman
National September 11 Memorial
Photo Credit: Adam Kenny
Every September, on Tunnel to Towers weekend, Margaret and I place small American flags at certain names on the National September 11 Memorial. Neither Margaret nor I ever had the pleasure of meeting Frank Bennett Reisman but he, and his wife Gayle, were great friends of my sister, Jill. Our placement of a flag at his name serves, we hope, to honor each of them.
He worked at Cantor Fitzgerald on the equities desk. On Tuesday, September 11, 2001, he was forty-one years years young. He and Gayle lived in Princeton, New Jersey, with their two children, Kasey and Dillon. In his obituary, Gayle described him as "the perfect suburban daddy". His career demanded that he left for work before either of his children woke up, which is why he made sure to send each of them online messages from work once he arrived there. He coached Kasey's softball team. He taught Dillon golf. He made it his practice to be home every night by 6:15. Gayle, Kasey, and Dillon waited for him so that the four of them could eat dinner together.
His obituary in the New York Times noted that he was the exemplar of the term "Great Guy". Certainly one can have any number of less-flattering sobriquets. Trust me, I know of which I speak.
He should have had the chance to see his children grow up, to grow old with the wife he loved, and to spoil grandchildren. Nineteen years ago, those chances were stolen from him as he was from the family who loved him and who he loved.
Frank Bennett Reisman
National September 11 Memorial
Photo Credit: Adam Kenny
-AK
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