Ten years after tragedy

On Sept. 11, 2001, terrorists launched an attack on the U.S. like this country has never experienced before. On the 10th year anniversary, San Diego LGBT Weekly pays tribute to the known LGBT community members who lost their lives that day.

Renee Barrett, 41, worked for Cantor Fitzgerald in the World Trade Center. Although she left the building before it fell, she was seriously burned during the attack. She died Oct. 18 of her injuries. She is survived by Enez Cooper and her 18-year-old son, Eddie.

Graham Berkeley, 37, was aboard United Airlines Flight 175, the second to crash into the World Trade Center. A native of England, he received his Green Card for U.S. residency in June, 2001.

Mark Bingham, 31, a gay rugby player from California, is credited with obstructing the United Airlines Flight 93 hijackers. The flight eventually crashed in Pennsylvania. Sept. 16 is officially designated Mark Bingham Day in San Francisco.

Pamela Boyce, 43, is one of the few employees inside the World Trade Center that has been officially confirmed dead. She worked at Carr Futures on the 92nd floor. Boyce is survived by her partner Catherine Anello.

David Charlebois, 39, was the co-pilot of American Airlines Flight 77, which crashed into the Pentagon.

He was a member of the National Gay Pilots Association. Charlebois is survived by Tom Hay, his partner of 13 years.

Eugene Clark, 47, worked for Aon Consulting on the 102nd floor of the World Trade Center. Before his death, he sent a voice message to his partner: “I’m OK. The plane hit the other tower. And we’re evacuating.” Clark’s body was never recovered and is officially considered missing. Clark is survived by Larry Courtney, his partner of 11 years.

Jeffrey Collman, 41, was an openly gay flight attendant on American Airlines Flight 11, the first to crash into the World Trade Center. Collman is survived by Keith Bradkowski, his partner of 11 years.

Luke A. Dudek, 50, returned to work Sept. 11 as a food and beverage controller at Windows on the World after a week’s vacation with his partner. Dudek is survived by George Cuellar, his partner of 20 years.

James Joe Ferguson, 39, died on Flight 77. He was the National Geographic Society’s director of geography education outreach.

Carol Flyzik, 40, was aboard Flight 11. She was a member of the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) and a nurse. Flyzik is survived by Nancy Walsh, her partner of 13 years.

Ronald Gamboa, 33, and Dan Brandhorst, 42, died on Flight 175. Together for 13 years, they were founding members of the Pop Luck Club, a Los Angeles organization of gay men interested in adoption. David, their 3-year-old adopted son, died with them.

Sheila Hein, 51, was working in the Pentagon as a civilian Army management analyst when Flight 77 crashed into it. Hein is survived by Peggy Neff, her partner of 18 years. Neff is reportedly the first person to receive compensation from the Sept. 11 Victim Compensation Fund.

Openly gay New York Fire Department Chaplain Father Mychal Judge, 68, died while ministering to an injured firefighter at Ground Zero, the first recorded death on 9/11. In 2002, Congress passed The Mychal Judge Police and Fire Chaplains Public Safety Officers Benefit Act into law, allowing domestic partners of public safety officers killed in the line of duty to collect their federal death benefit.

William Anthony Karnes, 37, worked at Marsh and McLennon on the 97th floor of the World Trade Center. Karnes is survived by his partner John Winter.

John Keohane, 41, died after being struck by falling debris when the first tower fell. He was with his partner of 17 years, Mike Lyons, at the time of his death. Lyons survived that day, but committed suicide March 1, 2002.

Michael Lepore, 39, worked as a project analyst at Marsh and McLennon on the 97th floor of the World Trade Center. Since his death, his friends contribute their time to tend to his garden. Lepore is survived by David O’Leary, his partner of 18 years.

Waleska Martinez, 37, was aboard Flight 93. She worked at the Census Bureau’s New York office. Martinez is survived by her partner, Angela Lopez.

Patricia McAneney, 50, worked for Guy Carpenter in the World Trade Center, and was the fire marshal of her floor. She is survived by Margaret Cruz, her partner of 18 years.

Wesley Mercer, 70, worked as a security guard for Morgan Stanley and contributed to evacuating 3,700 employees. However, he went back into the building to help others, and did not make it out. Mercer is survived by Bill Randolph, his partner of 26 years.

Philip “Roxy Eddie” Ognibene, 39, worked for Keefe, Bruyette and Woods on the 89th floor of the World Trade Center. A player for the Renegades of New York’s Big Apple Softball League, Eddie’s No. 5 jersey was retired.

Catherine Smith, 44, worked on the 97th floor of one of the World Trade Center towers. She is survived by Elba Cedeno, her partner of six years.