Tuesday, September 11, 2007

2996 Tribute for Michael Benjamin Packer



When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight.
~Kahlil Gibran


Michael Benjamin Packer

World Trade Center


Michael Benjamin Packer

He Had Technical Talent, Love for Classical Music

May 3, 2002

Michael Benjamin Packer was among a relatively small but significant number of people who didn't usually work in the Twin Towers yet became one of terrorism's victims there.

Packer, 45, was scheduled to present the keynote address at the Waters 2001 Financial Technology Congress at Windows on the World in Tower One.

"He shouldn't have been in the building, except he was going to give the speech," recalled his wife, Rekha. Packer, a mechanical engineer, worked nearby for Merrill Lynch at the World Financial Center where he was managing director of an electronic-commerce group for the bond firm.

"He was an incredible man," his wife said. "Above all, he liked learning about new innovations and that included highly technical things." But as technically gifted as he was, she said that her husband also had a deeply innate talent for artistic pursuits.

"His life included many things in the humanities, art and drama. He was an excellent pianist. In college, he performed concerts," she said.

One of Packer's avocations was building kit replicas of 18th century harpsichords, which he thoroughly enjoyed playing -- especially classical music of the masters.

"He would perform works by Bach, Liszt and Chopin," said his wife. He also enjoyed listening to jazz. At one point, the family, who lived in Hartsdale in Westchester County, found themselves with six harpsichords. "We gave away five and had one left," she said.

Packer possessed an enviable academic background. After attending Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire, he earned an undergraduate degree from Harvard University and went on to get a master's degree and a doctorate in mechanical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. His wife, an attorney, also graduated from Harvard. They celebrated their 25th Harvard class reunion in June.

Married for 22 years, the couple had two children, Sarita, 11, and Jonathan, 8. "He was an extremely good father and very dedicated to his children," Rekha Packer said. She said his children's birthday parties were "phenomenal." There was the time their son was fascinated by bulldozers. So through a friend's help, one arrived at their home for the boy to explore. And the time their son became intrigued with airplanes, Packer arranged for one to fly into Westchester County Airport so the child could examine it.

In addition to his wife and children, Packer is also survived by his parents, Leo and Dorothy Packer of Cambridge, Mass.; a sister, Janet Packer of Groton, Mass., and a brother, Alex, of Somerville, Mass.

--Bill Kaufman (Newsday)





The following letters are from Michael’s guest book:

Michael,
I will always remember you as a man filled with so much enthusiasm for life. I'm thankful I had the privilege of working in your home for one year. Your dedication to Rekha, Sarita, and Jonathan was evident every day - when you spent your evenings and your weekends with them, they lit up with excess excitement. That will stay imprinted upon their lives forever. They thought the world of you and they will miss you the most.
For your optimism, joy, strength, laughter, intelligence, kindness, and devotion to your family: you will never be forgotten.
To Rekha, Sarita, and Jonathan: I wish you the best of all good things. May Michael's enthusiasm for life, live on in yours.
God Bless,
Love,
Janelle L. Anderson
(Former Nanny, 1999-2000)

Michael,
On 9/11/01 I emailed you with an "are you OK" message. I never received a reply. Fearing the worst and hoping for the best I held my breath. Well, I was notified of the worst just two weeks ago and have since been contemplating my message and words below.

Although I worked with and for you in my role as a consultant, I always thought of you as a friend. You were always kind, good humored and considerate, enthusiastic and receptive. In my view, you were always a force for good, and an agent of positive change.

It goes without saying that you will be greatly missed by your family, friends, colleagues, company and country. We just lost a vital and capable human being who contributed much and gave everything to all those around him.

To your wife and family I extend my personal heartfelt condolences and those of my family and colleagues in the UK and USA. We can only imagine the intimate sense of loss they must feel, but it might help to know that we remember too, and our thoughts and prayers go with you all.

Michael, we are all going to miss you.

Prof Peter Cochrane


Below is the link to MIchael's Guest Book


Michael's Guest Book


Several months before the WTC attacks, Michael Packer offered to assist, pro-bono, the Lower Hudson Regional Information Center -- a non-profit, consortium of schools in Westchester, Rockland and Putnam counties -- in achieving our goal of being an organization synonymous with excellence. He was a world class business executive with a successful track record as a strategist, team builder and manager. When he first met Michael in August, we were impressed by his expertise and humor, as well as his genuine wish to help us. In one meeting, he established a bond of trust. We decided to get together again on September 14th, and we all had the highest hopes. We at the LHRIC were but a small part of Michael Packer's world but his kindness and sincerity were evident in each of our encounters.
~Peter Reilly, acquaintance

Musical and Mechanical

Michael B. Packer had a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, which came in very handy at his children's science fairs and birthday parties.

"When you walked into the house, you usually walked into a scientific experiment," said Ronald Soiefer, a close friend who had met Mr. Packer when they were Harvard undergraduates. One contraption had a microphone hooked up to a laptop computer, which recorded human voices and showed them as sound waves on a colored screen.

Mr. Packer, 45, of Hartsdale, N.Y., had many other sides. He played the piano and, in his spare time, made harpsichords, a trade he had learned as a student at Phillips Exeter Academy and Harvard. He made sure that his children — Sarita, 11, and Jonathan, 7 — were steeped in the classics. In June, he and his wife, Rekha, took the children on a tour of the Aegean Islands, following in the footsteps of Homer's Ulysses.

Mr. Packer, who was to be the keynote speaker at a technology conference at Windows on the World on Sept. 11, joined Merrill Lynch in 1999 as a leader of a major e-commerce initiative. "He was very good at managing things," said Mrs. Packer, who remembers most vividly how he coped with the family, the house, his job and her convalescence when she suffered a brain injury in 1990. "Nothing really got him down. We really miss him for that now."
Profile published in THE NEW YORK TIMES on December 12, 2001.


Short video, Please take the time to view...

September 11th Tribute




I am honored to participate in 2996.
Sarita is 17 this year and Jonathan is 13. My thoughts and prayers are with Michael’s family. I hope they are all doing well. I am honored to post this tribute for Michael.
I think it is beautiful that the blogging community has taken on and supported this wonderful way to pay tribute to those who lost their lives on September 11, 2001.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the families who lost their friends and loved ones in this tragedy.



Updated Link to 2996 posts

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20 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Thank you for the moving tribute, along with the video. Both were amazing.

I remember James Edward Potorti.

Never forget . . .

September 10, 2007 8:11 PM  
Blogger Walker said...

Great post.

The years tick by but that day lives on like it was just yesterday

September 11, 2007 7:26 AM  
Blogger Skunkfeathers said...

Most of us won't forget; a few have.

September 11, 2007 7:46 AM  
Blogger Monica said...

A lovely tribute, Raggedy. I chose not to post this year about it. Most of us remember that day every day as it continues to affect our lives. We lost many that day in the airplanes, NY, Pennsylvania, the Pentagon. The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan as a result of that day. The wounded.
Most of us live with the after affects on a daily basis but I want to tell you that I think of people like you on this day along with those we lost. Thank you again for your service to our country, friend.

Take care of you.

September 11, 2007 9:21 AM  
Blogger Ralph said...

Nice tribute and video.
Ralph

September 11, 2007 9:49 AM  
Blogger LZ Blogger said...

Raggedy ~ Very nice tribute here.
LET US NEVER FORGET! ~ jb///

September 11, 2007 12:10 PM  
Blogger Merle said...

Hi Raggedy ~~ Wonderful tribute to
all who died, and all who lost loved ones on that awful day.
I hope you are doing well my friend
Take great care, Much love, Merle.

September 12, 2007 3:17 AM  
Blogger Peter said...

Hi Raggedy, what a shame we have to remember that fateful day but tributes like this will ensure that we do.

September 12, 2007 9:10 AM  
Blogger Leann said...

thanks for sharing that with us.
so many died that day.and we still are seeing the effects from that day.
this country will never be the same again. we are wiser and safer then we were before 9 11. the Lord gave me Isaiah 26; 20,21.it talks about God himself going after murders.
I have been praying it against murders and terrorist,and even people who even think about it.and they have picked up terrorists before they can even do any thing.

have you seen the testimony,s of the people who were saved that day?I watched some of the story,s and it sent chills up arms and gave me goose bumps knowing how awesome God is.

Ill be gone for a while so God bless you and keep you safe till I get back.

September 12, 2007 10:23 PM  
Blogger eyes_only4him said...

nice;)

September 13, 2007 11:29 PM  
Blogger Jeanette said...

Hi Raggedy, A wonderfull tribute to all those who lost there lives on that fateful day

September 14, 2007 7:55 AM  
Blogger Lois Lane said...

Those were beautiful! Thank you for sharing them.

September 15, 2007 9:23 AM  
Blogger wazza said...

Gidday Raggedy,

How great it is to have you back and that your health is nearly back to normal. A fitting tribute for 2001 and the video, what moving, powerful images. A day never to be forgotten.
I'm glad the drop bear post gave you a giggle as that's what it's all about. Stay well.

September 16, 2007 7:03 AM  
Blogger Jo said...

Was a lovely tribbute to a special man.
One day I certainly wont be forgetting

September 17, 2007 5:39 AM  
Blogger Jamie Dawn said...

The losses of Sept 11th should always remain in our memory. God help us never to suffer another tragedy like that again!
God bless all those who have served and who are currently serving in the war on terror.

September 18, 2007 4:25 PM  
Blogger OldLady Of The Hills said...

Wonderful Post, Raggedy My dear.....When you read about each of the individuals who lost their lives on that fateful day, especially in such detail, it really makes you feel more deeply, the losses that all the family and friends sustained and the pain they still must live with every minute of every day. This post was so filled with who this man was----it hit home right in one's heart!

Hope YOU are feeling better and better my dear....!

(((((((HUGS)))))))

September 20, 2007 8:39 PM  
Blogger phoenix said...

This is a wonderful tribute Raggedy. I didn't have a chance to participate this year and I wish I could have. :)

September 22, 2007 10:28 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I had the privilege of knowing Michael as a colleague at Simon and Schuster. He was truly a great soul and such a wonderful and giving person. He was so proud of his children and his wife. He is truly missed and the world was diminished with his death.

September 23, 2007 1:22 PM  
Blogger Raggedy said...

I can't express in words how I feel reading your comment. I knew from all I have read how much Michael brought to the world. It means a great deal that someone who knew him took the time to read this tribute and comment. Bless you.

September 23, 2007 8:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Raggedy, thank you so much for visiting my blog and my tribute to Jean Roger and pointing me to your beautiful tribute to Michael Packer. I really appreciate how much work you put into finding out more about this husband and father and sharing with everyone, and I think you did a really wonderful job.

October 04, 2007 3:23 AM  

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