Remembering Michael Joseph Zinzi

Michael Joseph Zinzi worked on the 100th floor at One World Trade Center (North Tower). He was a vice president and certified public accountant for Marsh & McLennan, an insurance company.

Mike lost his life on September 11, 2001 during the terrorists attacks. I'd like to take a few moments to tell you about him.

One of Mike's hobbies was motorcycles. He rebuilt a 1956 K-Model Harley-Davidson with his father. He loved riding this bike even though it didn't have any shocks. Then, after having his name on a waiting list for three years, he got the call that a 1999 Heritage Soft-Tail Classic Harley-Davidson was waiting for him. He and his wife, Dyan, enjoyed riding and took lots of road trips together. Dyan eventually got her motorcycle license, too. On one trip through Connecticut they spotted an 883 Sportster Hugger, the mate to Mike's Aztec Orange Heritage. This would be the Christmas gift for Dyan.

Through the years, they rode the winding roads near their home and even to Vermont and Bike Week at Lake George, they also rode in many charity bike runs.
"I wanted to enjoy a couple of years doing that with Mike," Dyan Zinzi said.

Mike and Dyan met at a company they both worked at. When Dyan found out that Mike was leaving the company in two weeks, she immediately asked him out. One week later, she told her mother, "This is the one that I'm going to marry." Five years later, she did just that.

After getting married, Mike had hoped to become a father. In the fall of 2000, Dyan agreed to lay down her helmet. They had a son, Dean Michael, on July 8, 2001. Having Dean was the high point in Mike's life. He gladly took his turn changing diapers, feeding and loving Dean. Fatherhood completed Mike.

The last month of Mike's life was one of his happiest ever. In August, he attended his grandparents 59th wedding anniversary dinner where he got to see his family, including his dad in from Texas. This was just one of the many opportunities Mike took to show off his pride and joy, Dean.

Mike's 37th birthday was September 2. That following week while at home "I told him how happy I was and he told me how happy he was at this point in his life. He said he had everything," Dyan said.
On September 9th, they went riding for the first time since before the baby, a charity run from Parsippany to Newark. "It was just wonderful," Dyan said. "Doing that again. Together."

Two days later, Mike kissed Dyan and Dean goodbye and patted his son's head. "He was looking at the baby and saying, 'He's such a good boy,'" Dyan recalled. "He was so happy. He wanted to be such a good dad, and he was." It was 6:40 am. Dyan remembers hearing the garage door open, then close and she remembers smelling Mike's cologne on Dean's forehead where he kissed him. Then Mike drove off to catch the train.

"A happy wife is a happy life," Mike was fond of saying. Mike made Dyan a happy woman and in return, Mike Zinzi left this world a happy man. He had a wife that adored him, a beautiful baby boy, a nice home and a career that he worked hard in and enjoyed. He was a wonderful, thoughtful, smart, ambitious man with an easygoing personality and had a smile for anyone he came in contact with.

He will be missed by everyone. Dean now has his own guardian angel watching over him.

Although I never met Mike personally, I could tell that he was a man of strong character and family was very important to him. I wish that I had known Mike, he's the type of guy that you would enjoy being around.

My heart goes out to his family and friends and especially Dyan and Dean.

June 2004 -
Mike,
Today would have been your 3rd Father's Day.
Dean is doing very well and asks about you. I
tell him that you love him very much. He's
beginning to understand what "past away"
means. Dean is going to be 3 very soon and I
know that you are proud of him. I miss you so
much and I hope that you can see your beautiful
son thrive. I share memories of you with Dean
everyday...i.e, when I see a couple riding their
Harleys, I tell Dean that his Daddy and I did
that, etc. You are and will be in my heart and
thoughts forever.
Miss you, love you,
Dyan
Dyan Zinzi (NJ )

"He loved his wife and his son. He loved life," said Sue Kievit of Kinnelon, a close friend, along with her husband, Ken.

To view other tributes, please visit -

Remembering Vladimir Savinkin

Cantor Fitzgerald which was located on the 101st-105th floors of One World Trade Center, lost 658 employees, or about two-thirds of its workforce, in the September 11, 2001 attacks, considerably more than any other company, including the Fire Department of New York.

Of those 658 people, I’d like to tell you what I’ve learned about one. His name was Vladimir Savinkin. Vladaimir came to the United States around 1995 from Odesa, Ukraine at the age of 16 and attended Pace University. “None of his friends knew his real age,” said his father, Valeriy Savinkin. "He was more mature than all his friends, who were actually 19 or 20," he said. "He was very, very responsible and reliable."

Vladimir Savinkin accomplished a lot in his young age. He was only 21 years old and already graduated Pace University, knew how to care, helped many people and never forget about his family and his fiancée. He worked for Cantor Fitzgerald about 6 months. His goal was never stop learning , be optimistic, and do not forget about others.



Olga Lerman, Vladimir's girlfriend of four years, said they met in a Russian chat room on the Internet. "I really liked how he was talking. He was very polite. I liked that in a guy," she said. When they met three weeks later, "It was love in the first place."

Their birthdays are a day apart in May, so they always celebrated together. They had spoken about marriage, she said, and had planned a vacation to Odessa, the city they were from. "He was the leader of our group," she said, the one who most often made the plans for their clique of four young couples.

Vladimir was an accountant with Cantor Fitzgerald, and lived with his parents and sister in Midwood, Brooklyn. He had recently bought a new Acura, impressing his father.




Here’s what others have said about him:

I did not know Vladimir, but my husband used to work with his Dad. My husband was telling me that Vladimir called his father every day during lunch just to see how his day was going. Also, from people who have seen Vladimir around the neighborhood I've heard that he was a very nice guy: always polite, always greeting people with a smile.
My thoughts and prayers are with Vladimir's family always and especially now during this time of remembrance...
-Unknown

You were a true, dedicated friend, full of dreams making them a reality. Your warmth attracted many, and will still attract for many years to come. We will never forget you, rest in peace.
-Max Lukovsky (Brooklyn, NY)

We were friends in college, at one point we were really close friends, but I finished school earlier, and... We never kept in touch, but while we were friends he was a good friend and I will always treasure memories we had together.
Sam

Rest in peace, you still alive in my heart
-Sam Chenker (Brooklyn, NY)


You were working in those towers that dark September day
No one knew of those evil plans that were being made.
You lost your life so tragically when those towers collapsed away.
Your family has lost you and now their lives have forever changed.
The world will not forget your very brave and courageous name.
You came to the United States six years ago from the Ukraine.
With your maturity your friends really didn’t know your true age.
You were more responsible and reliable more mature in every phase
You lived with your parents and sister you were loved, totally adored.
You are a true and dedicated son and brother now and forever more.
Your warmth attracted many you were a friend to everyone for sure.
You could light up a room with your smile it was so sincere.
Your mother, father and sister hold your memory and love close and ever near,
Your courage and your strength help them to face their pain and all their tears.
You are never far away you are smiling down from Heaven above,
You are a guardian angel hero protecting the family that you love.

Written By
Diane Huggins
© 2002 11/22

Although I didn’t know Vladimir personally, I know that he was well liked, full of life with strong family bonds. Vladimir, you are truly missed. My heart goes out to his loved ones.

Vladimir Savinkin is an angel who will forever shine in our heart and our soul.



December 31, 2006 -
I just read this tribute,
I am Olga Lerman his fiancée, 5 years past, Miss you Vladik very much…I am so happy that so many people read this tribute.. My love!, I love you so much, it is 31 of December I would like to wish you happy new year! Please know that my love will be forever! I promise till my last days I will remember you, I will help your sister Galochka and your parents, remember our love times, tell about you all people who will know me, you will never be forget THAT IS MY PROMISE . I LOVE YOU BABY!


Re-posted from Sept 11, 2006