He seized souls, not letting go until he made them merry. He met a guy in a toy store and, moments later, the two were having a hula hoop contest. He insisted a concierge stop weeping over a bad breakup, then called her at 2:30 a.m. to make sure. He sweet-talked hostesses at four-star restaurants into producing tables for eight (and their phone numbers for dates) and persuaded a street masseur to let Mr. Horwitz give him a massage.
On September 11, 2001, 24 year old Aaron Horwitz was in the World Trade Center, Tower 1. He was an incredible young man. Full of life, he could light up a room. He was also unforgettable:
I just read the last entry in this guestbook before mine and I decided
I had to write something too. I was also at the wedding that Michele
Kowalski wrote about; my cousin Shawn Jones married Jeannine Damiani. I
too that night noticed an exuberant young man, dancing the night away,
with Jeannine and Shawn and all of the others from Cantor that night in
June 2001. It was your son Aaron, and he was dancing up a storm and had
the hugest smile on his face. After September 11th, when Jeannine was
tragically taken from us, I asked my sister if she knew if the other
people from Cantor who had been at Jeannine's wedding had also died. I
specifically asked about Aaron, I didn't even know his name at the time
but the image of him dancing at that wedding was something I could not
get out of my mind. I am so sad and angry that someone that full of
life is not with us anymore. I think about September 11th all the time,
I think about Jeannine, I think about my cousins beautiful wedding and
all those people from Cantor enjoying life and dancing the night away,
and Aaron always pops into my head. I hope you find even a tiny bit of
comfort in the fact that people who did not even know Aaron were
touched by him and still think about him.
....
I have still not come to terms with never seeing Aaron again, having him make me laugh or spending time together either in NYC or Raquette Lake, his second home. For all that knew him, he has left behind only memories of happiness. Any time Michael Jackson comes on, or another of Aaron's classic songs by the all time greatest pit party thrower, I cannot help but feel a great loss. After the initial sadness, I am always left with a smile, cause that's all Aaron knew how to do, make people smile. He is missed everyday by his friends, brothers and parents. Aaron made the most of his time here and he would want us to do the same.
Aaron was one of 658 Cantor Fitzgerald employees who died that day. And there were so many more. As the years pass, the shock wears off. The horror of that day fades. That's why this tribute is so important. To remind us of our loss. Of who we lost, what we lost.
Rest in peace, Aaron. What a difference you made in such a short time, what a legacy you left behind:
Aaron,
Your legacy of love, laughter and happiness lives on. You are missed today and everyday.
Although I had not seen Aaron, or the Horowitz family for a very long time I was deeply saddened to hear of your tremendous loss.
I remember fondly my young days at Sunday skating classes at Sky Rink where I first met Aaron and Robbie. Aaron, the jokester always busted my chops, but I soon learned that it was just his way of breaking the ice. As the expert skater he was...he always took the time to show the little things to make me a better skater. I looked forward to Sundays just to get out there with two superstar brothers that inspired me to be just as good as they were!
Aaron, always the loudest and funniest guy in the locker room before hockey practice or clinics, stirring people up and getting everyone rowdy or into laughing frenzy. From what I read about him in numerous posts it seems he carried that throughout his life in being the proverbial life of the party. I always look back on the days of of my youth and how hockey and skating shaped a lot of my future, and I'm glad that Aaron was a part of that.
God bless you Aaron and I send my love to the Horowitz family.
Posted by: Nelson | September 11, 2009 at 11:13 AM
Requiescat in pace, Aaron.
Posted by: Taylor | September 11, 2009 at 03:24 PM
Thank you for this. I honor Christopher Paul Slattery, another Cantor Fitzgerald employee.
Posted by: Alicia | September 11, 2009 at 03:45 PM