University dedicates garden to alumni lost in Sept. 11 attacks

Two years and two days after the tragic events of Sept. 11, President Tilghman and the Alumni Council dedicated a Memorial Garden in honor of 13 Princeton alumni who lost their lives in the terrorist attacks.

Families and friends assembled Saturday afternoon and braved mud and drizzle to remember their loved ones. Despite the solemn event, University staff exchanged good wishes and maintained positive spirits.

Former Director of Physical Planning Jon Hlafter '61 designed the garden in collaboration with his staff and Quennell Rothschild and Partners, Princeton's landscape architects.

Tucked away on the west side of East Pyne Hall where it connects with Chancellor Green, the garden displays the names and class years of the alumni lost in the attacks. Hlafter's design features the victims' names engraved in 13 gold stars positioned in a circle on the paved walkway.

Tilghman's goal in planning the garden was to "identify a beautiful and peaceful and living place where the names of these 13 Princetonians can be memorialized for all time."

Toshiko Takaezu, a ceramist, weaver, painter and visual arts professor for 25 years, created the bronze "Remembrance" bell, which marks the entrance to the garden.

Takaezu surely meant for the bell to be in line with that of Nassau Hall and it reflects the same color as the roofs of East Pyne and Nassau Hall.

Dean of Religious Life Thomas Breidenthal opened the service with a prayer and called for a "blessing on the souls whose memories the garden keeps."

As the garden sits in front of the renovated humanities center and looks directly on Nassau Hall, it connects the past and present of the University.

Tilghman stressed in her address that the University and surrounding community have come together to remember the Sept. 11 victims.

"The garden is just off one of the most heavily used walkways of our campus," Tilghman said, "a direct link from town into gown, and yet it is sheltered in ways that provide comfort and encourage reflection."

In the garden on Saturday, Chloe Wohlforth '07 spoke of her father's legacy. Martin Wohlforth '76 worked for Sandler O'Neill and Partners on the 104th floor of 2 World Trade Center.

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Chloe said adjusting to Princeton life has been more challenging without her father's guidance.

However, she said, being at Princeton has helped tremendously because of the connection she feels to her father. "Although being reminded of my dad so often can be painful," she said, "it is a wonderful thing since we share so many memories here together."

Ellen Mello, mother of Christopher Mello '98, spoke about the closely connected Princeton community. Many of Mello's Princeton friends remained supportive after the attacks, sending emails with words of comfort.

Each family member's speech had a common theme: the love and spirit each alumnus had for the Princeton community.

The Chapel Choir performed Jean Ritchie's "Now is the Cool of the Day" and choral blessing Psalm 23.

To conclude the ceremony, Tilghman rang the bell 13 times, once for each of the victims. The deep sound filled the tent and resonated across the lawn, and after the service, family members took turns ringing the bell and kneeling down to touch the gold stars.

"The family members and classmates, and the University itself, put part of themselves into each of the alumni honored in this garden," Tilghman said. "We were involved in their lives. We helped them grow, and they in turn left their marks on us."

Symbolizing growth, beauty, and hope, the garden will remain a living memorial for these Princetonians: undergraduate alumni Robert Cruikshank '58, Robert Deraney '80, Christopher Ingrassia '95, Karen Klitzman '84, Catherine MacRae '00, Charles McCrann '68, Robert McIlvaine '97, Christopher Mello '98, John Schroeder '92, Jeffrey Wiener '90 and Martin Wohlforth '76; and graduate alumni William Caswell '75 and Joshua Rosenthal '81.