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Name : Cousin Jo Anne
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Since I am your oldest cousin my memories of you go back to when you were stll in a crib living at 6820 Ridge Blvd., sharing a room with your big brother Bill. I remember how you wouldn't go to sleep unless you had 2 Oreo cookies to take to bed with you. I remember too how special it was for me to have you and Bill serve as altar boys at my weeding. The holidays we shared together were the best.Our Dads and Uncle Sonny having eating contests and our Moms,Aunt Carole, Julia and I singing old songs while we did the dishes. Family was important to you and you always found time to come to my parties and barbeques. I am happy that we shared so many special times. Judy may be your first love but we all know that golf was your second. I am so happy that you played at every opportunity you had, I wish you had many more. I hope the course in heaven is a great one!You life was too short but you taught us how to seize and enjoy evey day we have. I am so happy that you had somone as woderful as Judy to love you..We will miss you.
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Name : PEverts@home.com
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I am a stranger from California - a wife and mother who found your website by chance. Because I have personally found it intolerable to hear the losses of September 11th reported in numbers, I have made it my aim to find out what I could about every person who died in this tragedy. For me it is a way to honor and recognize each precious life lost. And so I found my way here through the Cantor website.
I would like you to know that you have created an absolutely beautiful and inspiring tribute to your John! After viewing the photos and reading the words of family and friends, I am filled with both joy and sadness. Joy, because I now feel as though I knew him, and sadness - because I never had that chance. What a marvelously loving man he was!
I grieve with you for your loss but I am confident that the love shown by your John will be reflected back to you by the many friends and family members whose lives he so enriched. Thank you so much for sharing his love with a stranger.
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Name : Carlotta Simonson
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I did not know John or his family. However when I saw this poem I thought of all the innocent victims of this terrible crime. I hope that his family realizes that we are all behind them praying for them. Your loss is incredible but I hope this poem can ease the pain even if just a tiny little bit.
God bless you all.
Two Thousand One, Nine Eleven
Two thousand one, nine eleven
Five thousand plus arrive in heaven,
As they pass through the gate,
Thousands more appear in wait.
A bearded man with stovepipe hat
Steps forward saying,
"Lets sit, lets chat"
They settle down in seats of clouds.
A man named Martin shouts out proud
"I have a dream!" and once he did.
The Newcomer said, "Your dream still lives."
Groups of soldiers in blue and gray
Others in khaki, and green then say
"We're from Bull Run, Yorktown, the Maine"
The Newcomer said, "You died not in vain."
From a man on sticks one could hear
"The only thing we have to fear.
The Newcomer said, "We know the rest,
trust us sir, we've passed that test."
"Courage doesn't hide in caves
You can't bury freedom, in a grave,"
The Newcomers had heard this voice before
A distinct Yankees twang from Hyannis port shores.
A silence fell within the mist.
Somehow the Newcomer knew that this
Meant time had come for her to say
What was in the hearts of the five thousand plus that ay
"Back on Earth, we wrote reports,
Watched our children play in sports.
Worked our gardens, sang our songs
Went to church and clipped coupons.
We smiled, we laughed, we cried, we fought
Unlike you, great we're not"
The tall man in the stovepipe hat
Stood and said, "don't talk like that!
Look at your country, look and see
You died for freedom, just like me"
Then, before them all appeared a scene
Of rubbled streets and twisted beams
Death, destruction, smoke and dust
And people working just 'cause they must
Hauling ash, lifting stones,
Knee deep in hell
But not alone
"Look! Blackman, Whiteman, Brownman, Yellowman
Side by side helping their fellow man!"
So said Martin, as he watched the scene
"Even from nightmares, can be born a dream."
Down below three firemen raised
The colors high into ashen haze
The soldiers above had seen it before
On Iwo Jima back in '44
The man on sticks studied everything closely
Then shared his perceptions on what he saw mostly
"I see pain, I see tears,
I see sorrow - but I don't see fear."
"You left behind husbands and wives
Daughters and sons and so many lives
are suffering now because of this wrong
But look very closely. You're not really gone.
All of those people, even those who've never met you
All of their lives, they'll never forget you
Don't you see what has happened?
Don't you see what you've done?
You've brought them together, together as one.
With that the man in the stovepipe hat said
"Take my hand," and from there he led
five thousand plus heroes, Newcomers to heaven
On this day, two thousand one, nine eleven.
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Name : Retta (Filbert) Phillips
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To the Sbarbaro Family, please accept my most heartfelt sympathies for your loss. I knew John back in the heydays of Tun's Tavern when he played football with my older brother, Frippy Filbert. John was always such a sweet guy. I have one particular memory I would like to share with you. When I was 18 yrs old, I worked at a savings bank in Manhattan. I had asked one of the guys at Tun's if he would go with me to the Christmas party the bank was holding and he turned me down, due to having a new girlfriend in his life. I must admit, I was crushed at the refusal. John was nearby when this happened and came over to me and said he would really like to escort me to my Christmas party if I wouldn't mind. It was like having a knight in shining armor come rescue a damsel in emotional distress. I had always liked John, and if I had thought he would ever have considered going with me to that party, he would have been my first choice to ask! We had a wonderful time at that party. All of my co-workers thought he was such a witty, handsome, very respectful young man. I felt like I was the luckiest girl in the world that day. John was a true gentleman. What made him so special was that he was genuine. I have so many memories of him, and that is a good thing. I bumped into John many years ago while I was visiting my family in Bay Ridge. My children and I were walking down Ovington Ave, on our way to Cangiano's for some groceries for dinner that night and saw John as he was taking out the trash. What a pleasant surprise to see him after so many years! He talked to my son who was only 4 yrs old at the time and my daughter, 11yrs old then. He did have a way with kids. Kathy, although I never knew anyone but John in the Sbarbaro family, my heart aches for you all. I will call my older brother, Frippy Filbert, and tell him about the website you have put together here and of the Memorial Service scheduled for next weekend. I will be there in spirit and say an extra prayer that day. I will be heading up from Virginia the following weekend to be with my Mom on the 10th anniversary of my father's passing. Kathy, you are in my prayers and Johnny will forever be in my heart. God Bless.
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Name : Jackie- your niece
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What can I say? I know that you and I did not really get along in the beginning but you grew on me. You became someone I looked up to. I remember visiting you at Chase when you worked there with Aunt Judy. You always knew how to really cheer people up when the needed it most. At Uncle Robert's funeral, you knew the right things to say to me to help me with the difficult time. I actually wish you were here so that I can hear you voice tell me that "Everything will be alright and we'll make it." You always made people laugh and have a great time. I remember when we acted out the "Twelve Days of Christmas", we looked like fools but I had so much fun looking like a fool with you. You also surfed at my wedding. You weren't using a surfboard, you were the surfbard while Uncle Robert surfed. I remember the silly game you showed us, what was it called again, "HaHa?" Thank you for being there when my Aunt Judy needed you most. The hardest part is when Christopher asks me where you are. I tell him that you are now an Angel with Uncle Robert. I tell him that you will look after us and take care of them. I never called you Uncle to your face but I love you as an Uncle. I will definitely miss you and you will be in our hearts forever.
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Name : Amy
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I found this Web site through the Cantor site. I am trying to honor those who lost their lives by actually viewing some names rather than just hearing numbers. I am so sorry for your loss and for all the losses this country sustained Sept. 11. I hope you can find some peace in the knowing there are millions of us who are praying for your lost loved ones.
Amy
Washington, D.C.
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Name : Gail and Marc Cohen
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We are so sorry for your loss. This website and the photos are so filled with love. God Bless.
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Name : Bian F. Gorman
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Kathy what a great way for friends and family to remember John. First I want to let you know that you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers. I too had the pleasure of knowing John in a special way, not only were we friends but business partners as well. Over the last several years we did not see each other that often but the times we did share were great. I will NEVER forget the times at Tun's/Libations, the houses in Hunter and the Hamptons, the ski weeks in Vermont, playing football & softball, John being a part of my wedding and so much more. It is hard to believe that we started our friendship over 25 years ago and that time passed in a blink.Take comfort in knowing that John was loved by so many. John will be missed by so many but the memories of him will never be forgotten.
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Name : Noel - your nephew
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As I read through the letters that everyone has written, I can see that you have affected not only my life in a positive manner but everyone who had the privilege of knowing you. Your energy and your joy for life was exhibited in everything you did even when it came to the little things in life...like when we were sitting on the couch during one of our memorable family Christmas parties. There, you sat down and talked to me about the important things in life (what to look for in a girl as we were skimming through the pages of a Victoria's Secret catalog). I'm still looking for my model girlfriend. There is no one I have met who has exemplified living life to its fullest than you. I know you are up in heaven joking around and bringing joy to the people up there as you did when you were with us. You will be truly missed but definitely not forgotten.
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Name : Mary Anne Jalinos
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Judy, Bill, Cor, Kathy, Mrs. Sbarbaro, we all mourn the loss of John. I remember going to his bar after Bill & Cor's wedding. Rose, may the Blessed Mother stand with you during these difficult times. She knows what you are going through. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. May his memory be eternal.
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