We all remember that fateful day – September 11, 2001. When I saw the footage on tv, I was overwhelmed with emotion. I broke down and cried for all the people whose lives were cut short that day – people just like Judson Cavalier.
I didn’t know Judd, but I now feel as if I do. When I signed up for the 2,996 Project and saw his profile, tears welled in my eyes, and I got a lump in my throat. As I read the words posted by his family and friends, I felt their pain. Here was a handsome young man who would never get married, never have children, never have the chance to say goodbye to his loved ones. He would, however, be remembered fondly by family, friends, and coworkers. I hope that all of you will join me in remembering Judd as well.
Judd grew up in Huntington, New York. He met his best friend, Joe Anchundia, in grade school, and the two quickly became inseparable. They remained so until they went off to different colleges. After graduation, they got together again – both as roommates and as colleagues. The two were investment bankers for Sandler O’Neill & Partners, located on the 104th floor of Tower 2 of the World Trade Center. Just as they had lived together, they died together.
Having read through a number of messages posted by Judd’s family and friends, one thing was certain. Judd was always happy, always smiling. And what a beautiful smile he had!
Please, take a moment of silence for Judd, Joe, and all the other victims of 9/11. And leave a few words for Judd’s family and friends in the comments. I plan to present my post and its comments to the family. If you have information on how I can contact them, please email me. I will leave this post at the top of my blog from now until September 11th.
Be sure to check out Lilize’s blog, as she will be posting a tribute for Joe Anchundia.
Rest in peace, Judd and Joe! We will never forget you.
You can find links to all the other tributes here.
September 6th, 2006 at 7:04 pm
I was “remembering” today at work…and it was all i could do not to breakdown right there…Judd, we do remember you…5 years later you are still touching lives…your infectious smile tugging at hearts.
May God’s love comfort and strenghten your family as they still mourn you and miss you!
September 6th, 2006 at 9:53 pm
A beautifully written post Tish.
Whilst my thoughts about the reasons for 9/11 happening at all are mixed, nothing can take away the fact that many innocent lives were tragically cut short on that day.
There is no excuse for anyone to think they have good reason to take innocent lives in such a way.
I really hope someone who knew Judd finds your tribute to him and gets in touch with you.
September 7th, 2006 at 12:40 am
Tish, a well written tribute, and your feelings shone through. I think you found, as I did, that once you signed up and learned who “your” person was, that person became almost like a part of your family. I hope you can find a way to give this to Judd’s family, and to let them know what he has come to mean to you. Judd, we remember you, and we will pray for your family, that they may take some comfort from the fact you are not forgotten.
September 7th, 2006 at 1:11 am
I hadn’t teared up since 9/11 until I read this. Thanks for reminding me what it was all aboutl.
September 7th, 2006 at 6:31 am
Nice writing Tisch. I cannot believe its been five years already.
September 7th, 2006 at 8:51 am
Thank you for telling us about Judd. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends.
Blessings,
Auntie Lyn
September 7th, 2006 at 9:42 am
nicely done.
September 7th, 2006 at 9:18 pm
Tish, it is beautiful. Where did you read comments from his friends and family? Maybe the manger of that site would know how to contact them. Or on the site where you got assigned Judd, there is a way to email the guy who started it. Maybe that? I just can’t imagine that we can let this day pass without Judd’s friends and family knowing that those of us who never saw him smile, or heard him laugh, still know what the world is missing out on.
September 7th, 2006 at 9:28 pm
By the way… I just went and looked at a 9/11 guest book, where there was an entry by a friend of his from high school… Taryn Lofgren of Lincoln Park, NJ… who left an email addy: zoe1975@aol.com Maybe that will leave you somewhere. Good luck!
September 7th, 2006 at 9:29 pm
I meant LEAD, not leave… of course. Damn margarita night.
September 7th, 2006 at 11:43 pm
Thank you, he is real to me now.
September 8th, 2006 at 12:34 am
It was a good choice, to write this. We should celebrate their lives.
I am sure that Judd is missed.
September 8th, 2006 at 8:44 am
Thanks for the nice tribute to Judd, my brother’s old roommate and Fraternity brother from UNH. He read your site and told me that he especially liked this picture of Judd as it was taken one of the very last time all ‘the guys’ went out, including Joe and 4-5 other guys that they rented a house in the Hamptons with. The picture was taken at Carmine’s in NY. I haven’t been but I guess Carmine’s is known for it’s large portions. At the dinner the guys ordered a dessert to share, which my brother described as a ‘log’ of cake. When it came out all the guys chipped in money and bet Joe $300 that he couldn’t eat the whole cake. He ended up getting sick trying and had to forfeit the cash.
Just thought that was a cool story. I e-mailed you the address for Judd’s parents.
September 8th, 2006 at 8:50 am
That was a great touching tribute!
September 8th, 2006 at 9:34 am
Thank you writing such a moving and beautiful tribute. Like you, I did not know the person I wrote about, but felt moved to do something.
September 8th, 2006 at 4:34 pm
Thank you for a wonderful tribute, as I read more of these I feel like I get to know them all just a little.
My tribute is up.
September 8th, 2006 at 5:49 pm
Tish:
GREAT job. While gathering information on Mark, I too was moved to tears. So many senseless deaths.
I only hope that we have honored them in our own way.
September 8th, 2006 at 6:10 pm
Wow did he die too young, didn’t they all. That was a beautiful tribute. Thanks for visiting my tribute to Marjorie C. Salamone.
September 9th, 2006 at 10:05 am
Thanks for your lovely tribute. What a great young man! You can read my tribute to David P. Lemange here if you like.
September 9th, 2006 at 12:53 pm
what a lovely tribute to a great guy. thanks for sharing it with us.
and thanks for stopping by my blog to read my tribute.
September 9th, 2006 at 1:12 pm
A lovely tribute to a fine young man….It is pretty overwhelming to read all the different Tributes and be so persoinally moved by the losses of such dear people that terrible day—I feel for their families and their friends more than I can say…Thank you for helping to make this Fifth Anniversary a more personal rememberance.
September 9th, 2006 at 1:40 pm
Your tribute to Judson is most special not only because of the way you reflected the feelings of his family…but sharing of yourself. You should be proud in carrying forth the memory of the 2,996.
For Your Success pays tribute to Thomas Sullivan.
September 9th, 2006 at 1:45 pm
What a fine young man. Your tribute was beautiful and very touching. Too bad that he didn’t have a chance to live his life to the fullest. He seemed happy and had a lot of friends and family who cared about him. Wonderful to remember him this way and wonderful that you will send this tribute and comments to his family. Good idea.
Please invite your commenters to view my tribute to Cynthia Wilson who died when WTC Tower 1 fell.
September 9th, 2006 at 2:20 pm
Thank you for honouring Judd. He is no longer just a name to us.
Mine is up: http://purple4mee.blogspot.com/2006/09/im-honouring.html
September 9th, 2006 at 6:21 pm
These tributes are truely heartwarming. His picture is how I will remember him.
My tribute is up.
September 9th, 2006 at 7:31 pm
That day still lives in my mind. I don’t think the images will ever leave. What a great tribute you have written.
I have a tribute posted, as well, if you would like t stop by.
September 9th, 2006 at 9:40 pm
Tish, you did an outstanding job on your tribute! I wish I’d been able to find more information for mine…sadly, I didn’t have that much to go on, but I did my best!
Rest in Peace, Judd & Joe! This Okie will never forget.
Please come read my tribute to DANIEL LUGO over at my place!
http://mamakbear.blogspot.com
September 10th, 2006 at 2:18 pm
This was beautiful, Tish! What a lot of wasted potential lost on that day. It’s hard to believe that it was 5 years ago. Thanks for visiting my blog and looking at my tribute to Vinod Parakat.
September 10th, 2006 at 7:37 pm
Hey Tish!
I loved your post..
as much as it seems i really met joe, it also seems i met judd =(
my post is finally up.
you did a great job, thank you for sharing it!
September 10th, 2006 at 8:50 pm
i just tracked the comment, i guess it’s ian’s sister?
when i contacted eytan i gave him the link to your blog.. but i don’t know if he has read it already or not…
i’d like to send my tribute to joe’s family as well but i don’t know how to find them
September 10th, 2006 at 9:54 pm
A lovely tribute. And what a picture…he looks like someone I would’ve liked to call a friend.
September 11th, 2006 at 3:53 am
I don’t know what to add that hasn’t already been added or said before, but there is something in making all of these victims of senseless atrocity back into the humans that they were and not just a number.
Take care.
Have a good week.
I don’t know what kind of Patriots Day to wish you (due to the atmosphere of it), but all the same…
September 11th, 2006 at 8:30 am
Thank you for posting a beautiful tribute and his smiling picture. A great way to remember him.
September 11th, 2006 at 9:41 am
Beautiful job. Thank you for helping us remember Jud and in such a positive, warm, way. My tribute is for Robert J. DeAngelis.
September 11th, 2006 at 11:50 am
A beautiful tribute. I hope that family and friends of Judd will find your post.
My tribute is to Sheila Hein.
September 11th, 2006 at 1:26 pm
My thoughts and prayers go out to Judson’s family. Full of life, gone too soon, but never forgotten!
September 11th, 2006 at 1:37 pm
May Judd’s family have peace in their hearts. I’m so sorry for your beautiful loss.
September 11th, 2006 at 5:09 pm
It is so cool that you could link to his friend’s tribute too.
Here is my tribute to Richard G. Catarelli.
September 11th, 2006 at 5:33 pm
Just looking at his picture, you can just see his animated spirit. How sad to have lost his life so soon, and the families that have mourned them both. I have a tribute up for Scott Davidson today.
September 11th, 2006 at 7:35 pm
All the things he’ll never do. Much like my approach in my tribute.
Tribute to Christopher Paul Slattery
September 11th, 2006 at 10:27 pm
Judd has such an infectious smile. Here’s to picturing Judd and Joe, inseperable, forever, and laughing together like old times.
Beautiful tribute Tish. And Judd, peace be with you.
September 11th, 2006 at 11:43 pm
Such a nice tribute, I’m glad that he and Joe were there for eachother.
Faina’s tribute
September 11th, 2006 at 11:59 pm
Good job on your tribute to Judd. He looks as if he loves life and from comments, everyone loved him. It is heartbreaking to read about so many lost that horrible day. They were a light for our country and now others must carry the torch. We will never forget those lost that horrible day. My condolences to Judd’s family and friends.
Please read my tribute to Catherine A. Nardella if you can. She too died too young, too soon.
September 12th, 2006 at 1:21 am
Thank you for a beautiful tribute to Judd. You gave a face and heart to a name.
We will never forget.
I remember Lisa Egan
http://ramblingsofamadpiggie.blogspot.com
September 12th, 2006 at 1:50 am
never have the chance to say goodbye to his loved ones.
One of the things that sometimes passes through my mind is the last time I saw Ron Gamboa, who was aboard Flight 175. I can’t remember if I said goodbye to him the last time I saw him; but even if I did, I would have said it without realizing it would be the last time.
We should never take people in our lives for granted.
A very beautiful tribute to Judson Cavalier! What a name. Thanks for taking the time to bring attention to his life.
September 12th, 2006 at 6:03 am
When this tragedy happened it was a very important day in my life. My girlfriend, who I’d moved country for, left me that morning mostly due to the fact that my work had taken too much of my time. I got to work to find that I was very likely about to be made redundant. It was not a good morning and I was heart broken, depressed and utterly alone. I really didn’t feel like living anymore. I left my office and sat in a café down the road staring back at my office with tears on my cheeks, itself a tower of glass and steel, thinking about my life and the huge dark metal pillars that ran up the side of my office and curled at the top to sharp points like talons. It looked like some monument to evil and my life had been shredded by those steel claws. It all seemed so ridiculous and unimportant.
I went back to my office to find that the first plane had struck the North tower and I sat and watched everything that happened next and forgot completely about what was happening to me. It was so obvious at that point that the world was changed. But I was changed also. In a moment when I lost a great deal, just moments before I had thought I had lost everything, I was faced with thousands truly losing everything. The realisation of that loss spreading out like ripples on a pond to directly touch the lives of hundreds of thousands more put my own problems in perspective. My problems dissapeared.
Every time I think of those that died and those they left behind I remember the realisation that their suffering brought to me on that day. It seems both brutal and ironic that the realisation was that life goes on. So the message I leave for Judson and those that loved him is this. We all had our perspectives readjusted on that day and we all came to focus on what really is important and for once we all agreed on what that was. It is a unity I do not intend to forget. I am so sorry for the price you paid and will always continue to pay. I really don’t expect it to be any comfort to you, but a little bit of the lives lost went on in those that were changed. In some cases, in those that were saved.
We are all with you.
November 22nd, 2007 at 5:12 pm
[...] on our own to discover all we could about the person. It was a very emotional experience. I wrote a tribute to Judson Cavalier, a young man who perished in Tower 2 of the World Trade Center. Judd’s best friend, Joe [...]
July 6th, 2008 at 8:42 pm
I was in New York on vacation this past week. As many tourists do, we visited the site of 9/11 – we had seen the twin towers 20 years ago and had not been back to New York until the week of July 4, 2008. I was moved by the memorial and by the fact that there was someone with my husband’s surname who had died during the 9/11 attack. I am interested in Judson’s genealogy – where his family came from, etc. My husband’s family was from Morgan City, Louisiana and we now live in Lafayette, Louisiana. I can be reached at the e-mail address lynda@drannlaurent.com – please put “Judson Cavalier” in the subject line so I don’t accidently delete your e-mail. Looking forward to hearing from you to see if there is a connection. Thanks! Lynda Cavalier