Rockville Centre community reflects on 9/11

The Village of Rockville Centre held its 23rd annual remembrance ceremony last Sunday on the village green, honoring the 49 men and women in the community who lost their lives on Sept. 11, 2001, and all those who have died since then from the effects of their efforts at ground zero.

“Tonight, we gather to renew our commitment to remembering our friends, neighbors, and family members we lost on 9/11 and those who have succumbed from related injuries since that horrific day in American history 22 years ago, their names etched on the sacred memorial behind me,” Rockville Centre Mayor Francis X. Murray said. “Our memorial serves as a powerful symbol for me, and a place for personal dedication, to keep working on remembering the past and committing to making the future better.”

The ceremony began with the presentation of the Police Department Color Guard, which was followed by the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance led by Girl Scout Troop 843. Father Michael Duffy of St. Agnes Cathedral provided the invocation, leading participants in silent prayer for those we lost.

During the ceremony, three candles were lit and placed atop the three stone pillars of the memorial by relatives and loved ones of those who died on that fateful morning 23 years ago.

Lauren O’Brien, a Rockville Centre native and 2023 graduate of South Side High School, who lost her uncles Timothy Michael O’Brien and Stephen Tighe, shared a few words on behalf of her family.

“I speak for my entire family when I say we don’t ever forget,” O’Brien said. “The faith that was instilled in all of us has been tested and as a unit we continue to march through. I believe some folks choose not to mention that day or our loved ones lost in fear of being too much of a burden or that they might be offended. Although I admire the disbelief, I go back to thinking, always promise not to forget.”

Timothy O’Brien and Stephen Tighe, we both at work at Cantor Fitzgerald, a financial services company that was based on the 105th floor of the World Trade Center’s north tower, when a commercial airliner struck it at approximately 8:46 a.m. on Sept. 11, 2001.

“The loss of the men in our family was senseless. It was criminal. It was pure evil. But the men that we lost were the complete opposite of those things,” Lauren said. “Time passes but it cannot erase what has been done. They deserve to be remembered. They deserve to be kept alive in spirit. They deserve to know their passing is not in vain.”

Her uncle Timmy was well known in the community. He attended St. Agnes School where he helped win a state basketball championship, after which he went on to attend Hartwick College on a full basketball scholarship. He is lovingly remembered by his wife, Lisa D’Arpino, and three children John, Maddie, and Jacie.

Tighe, also indelible, left a mark on his community. He grew up on Hillside Avenue, around the corner from the O’Brien family, and was a skilled soccer player for the South Side High School Cyclones. In 1986, he married his wife Kathleen, with whom he had four children. He loved coaching youth soccer with the Rockville Centre Soccer Club and was the junior varsity coach at Kellenberg Memorial High School. Beloved by the community, the field on Windsor Avenue was renamed in his memory in 2003.

Both men’s names were read aloud on Sunday night, along with those of the other 54 other village residents who died on Sept. 11 or in the aftermath of the attack, from illnesses related to the toxins in the dust from the collapsing building, at the conclusion of the ceremony.

“At a time when evil wanted to see weakness, we showed the epitome of strength,” O’Brien said. “Perhaps now is the time when we never forget and live as we all did on Sept. 12, 2001.” 

After reciting the names, Rabbi David Lerner of Congregation B’nai Sholom-Beth David provided the benediction, which was followed by a few words of inspiration from Deputy Mayor Kathy Baxley, who encouraged everyone in attendance on Sunday night to honor the ones we lost by performing one good deed in the days ahead.

The crowd stood as American Legion Post Commander Frank Colón Jr. played taps, followed by an acoustic rendition of “America the Beautiful” performed by Peter Garrity and Tom McNicholas.