In Memory of Michael Horn

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I never had the privilege of meeting Mike, but as a Bing Alum, and a Chi Phi brother I heard all about what a great guy he was. I am thinking of him as the 10th anniversary approaches.

*** Posted by Eric Feuer on 2011-09-09 ***

Hey Mike...(The Chaminade Kid), Thinking of you and your family as the 10th Anniversary approaches...I am so happy you and my husband became friends. He really liked you and said you would go far one day. Be at peace always. I am sure you and my husband see each other from time to time in heaven...love, Liz Gardner wife of William Gardner-Cantor Fitzgerald

*** Posted by Liz Gardner on 2011-09-08 ***

My room was next to Mike's in the Jarvis St house at SUNY Bing back in '94. Good times. Thinking of you today.

*** Posted by Alex Wren on 2010-10-08 ***

Thinking of you today Mike....

*** Posted by Dan Poole on 2010-09-11 ***

Thinking of Mike singing Randy Travis and the Clancy Brothers. He had such a positive view of life. What a big and welcoming personality! I can clearly remember how he loved his family and his dog, "barf narf".

*** Posted by Chris Aquino on 2010-09-11 ***

You'll always be missed, youngest cousin. We raise a glass in your memory every year.

*** Posted by Derek Handley on 2010-09-11 ***

09/11/2010


Mike,

Not a day goes by that I do not think about you and your family. We had such great memories playing Football w/ the Green Hornets. Mike the "Big" fullback and me, the little left handed quarterback.. Then playing "touch" football (never was!) at Lynbrook H.S. man I hated to be against you.... You'd put your shoulder down and just plowed right over us! The only kid on that ball field that had any courage to tackle you was your big brother..(Charlie).. LOL! I remember how we all used to make fun of you the way you would punt the football, swinging it from left to right as if you were rocking a newborn baby to sleep... then "boom!" that football launched into the air... Great fun! Great memories...

As we both entered H.S. we all just began our own lives, you to Chaminade, me to Kellenberg, and Greer to Lynbrook H.S. Amazing how quick our lives have passed.
I never knew that you had passed 9 years ago today, until I returned to N.Y. from N.C. (Greensboro) about three weeks after 9/11. I came up and was holding my newborn baby-girl in my arms and entered into St. Raymond’s to meet the priest about my daughter's baptism. I saw a photo of you at the front altar and my heart sunk deep! "Mike Horn?" "no way"! still as I am writing this letter I am so overwhelmed with emotion.. It's not fair! I'm angry.. Why? Why? You had such a great heart... Always smiling... You never were shy to let others know how much you loved your family... and friends...

Why did God let this happen? Why?

God obviously knew what He was doing. I know I will never be able to see you again on this earth, to tell you about my life, my children, for us to sit down together and talk about our lives. That makes me sad. But I guess that’s selfish on my part.

I know you are with God and that gives me Peace.

Mike, I miss you...

You will Forever be my hero!...

May God Bless You,  may he Bless your family.

Until we meet again....... my friend...............


Matt O’Hal

*** Posted by Matt O on 2010-09-11 ***

I am thinking of Mike and his family on this 9th anniversary of September 11th. I knew Mike from both his visits to East Durham and SUNY Binghamton. He was outstanding, that is all I can say. Never short on a joke or a good Irish song. I still remember the night we met up in Binghamton. He was singing an Irish tune and I joined in. "The Streets of New York" never fails to bring his memory to my mind and tears to my eyes. I loved him as a dear friend and hope his family is starting to heal. God bless.

*** Posted by Mary Walsh Fitzpatrick on 2010-09-11 ***

I went to Lehigh with Mike's brother, Charlie. Today I was remembering the first time I met Mike at Lehigh. He was still in high school at the time. We were all out together on the Hill, and we walked into a packed party at one of the other fraternity houses. This was before they banned kegs, and all the beer was free. Mike wasn't in the place for two minutes, and he had walked up to the best-looking girl in the place and asked her if he could buy her a beer. There's no way that line should have worked, let alone for a high school kid in a fraternity party. I'm not sure whether it was his good looks or his natural charisma, but he talked to her for the next hour.

I got to know him fairly well over the next few years, and he was always a blast to hang out with. I'm sad he's gone, I remember him often, and my thoughts and prayers are with his family today.

Andy Stober

*** Posted by Andy Stober on 2010-09-11 ***

God Bless the Horn family.

*** Posted by Stephen Day on 2009-09-12 ***

This beautiful young man was my hero on an August evening in 2001. On that evening I fell and hit my head on the pavement. I was lying unconscious with face against the ground bleeding from my forehead (I may have had a drink or two too many that one night). Michael picked me up and put me into his friend's car. His friend drove us to Winthrop Hospital while Michael sat in the back of the car with me, talking and singing to keep me from going out again. Upon arriving at Winthrop Hospital, Michael sat with me the waiting room the entire time. It was at least an hour wait as the nurse no doubt gave me "sober up time" before calling in the plastic surgeon. While we waited at the hospital Michael joked and sang songs and kept me laughing and smiling. When the surgeon arrived, Michael stayed by my side for the entire "procedure" holding my hand while my head was stitched. Upon leaving the hospital, Michael took me and my heavily bandaged head to a nearby diner and treated me to a cheeseburger deluxe. He joked in earshot of others eating there saying something to the effect of: had I not spent so much money on groceries for the children, he would not become upset, and I wouldn't have gotten hurt. Of course that kind of talk resulted in some long, disgusted stares and glares from our neighbors at the diner. While dining, Michael also talked about his girlfriend who he was crazy about and how he loved country music. Michael then drove me all the way home to Port Washington, where I discovered at 3 am that I did not have my house keys. (I must have dropped them on the pavement when I fell.) At that late hour, after a harrowing evening, Michael offered to drive me BACK to Mineola to look for my keys. I was a mess, and I just wanted to be home. Michael took rocks and gently threw them at my roommate's window. My roommate woke up and let me in. I was finally home and "safe and sound" thanks to Michael. MY HERO!

I think of Michael often. I believe he is a guardian angel. After hearing of his death, I was so upset and thought, "I only spent a few hours with him, and I am so distraught." I immediately thought of his family and close friends, those who knew him for his lifetime, and that their grief is most unimaginable. This was a man of joy, kindness, love, and laughter. What a tragic loss for his friends and family!

Lastly, upon the horror of 9/11, the sacredness of life became ever so clear. Due to this realization and having been so impressed by the kindness of Michael, I was graced with the awareness that alcohol was adding an element of unnecessary danger to my life. Since January of 2002, I have not taken any alcohol, and my life has become so much fuller and happier. Thank you, Michael!

*** Posted by Elizabeth on 2008-09-11 ***

Mike--there are no words to describe him. He was unique in every way. I remember meeting Mike in East Durham back in 1997. He was with his friends and his brother Charlie. I had met Charlie first and then Mike came in and, being Mike, tried to move in on me at the bar. He was hysterical. We got along instantly and remained friends. I used to bartend in the city, and he would visit me, and we would have a blast. His laughter and smile were infectious. Every moment I spent with him was wonderful.

The last time I saw Mike was almost fitting enough. It was once again in East Durham were we met. He was dating a girl, and I believed they were living in Yonkers. I have a picture of him, and I must find it and post it, so everyone can see that beautiful smile of his.

Mike, I was sorry. I had no idea that you worked in the WTC. I was in the Hamptons when I ran into Charlie, and I was so happy to see him, 'cause you knew better than anyone my feelings for him. When I asked how you were, his face changed so quickly, and he told me the horrible news, and I just lost it. Thinking back, I feel horrible because poor Charlie looked like someone had sucked the life out of him; he loved you so very much. Anyone that had the pleasure to be in your life was lucky, and that is what I consider our time together. It was fun and lots of laughs. I think of you often, and I will miss you forever.

*** Posted by Clare Murphy on 2007-11-27 ***

Mike and I had a lot in common. We were not friends but knew each other from Chaminade. I was just reading Ms Gardiner's comments about how her husband, also a victim of 9/11, called him "the Chaminade Kid." That is such an accurate statement, and I am so Glad she shared that story on this website. He was a VERY friendly guy. I had to quit the track team, and if my memory serves me right, Mike was on the spot right away in the coaches' office. He tried to convince me not to quit. If that is not where I met him, it was through one of my classmates who was on track all 4 years had introduced me to him because he told me he lived in Lynbrook, and I was surprised and told him as a little kid I lived in Lynbrook from '77 to '81, and wasn't it neat that we lived in the same town and then 8 years later wound up at the same high school. Mike's brother has the same first name, and our last name has the same first letter. When I saw the front page story in Newsday, I immediately recognized Mike and was saddened. There were other Chaminade grads that also had died in the WTC who had sat a few tables away during lunch time. It is no surprise to read the other remarks about Mike and how friendly he was. He was. Mike was 27 when he passed away, and I had just turned 26 one month before 9/11/2001. Even before 9/11 I had told many people about Mike trying to convince me not to quit track. It would be nice to know if he was in fact on track at Chaminade since my yearbooks were destroyed by a water leak.

My condolences to the Gardiner family and the 3 other students whose fathers had been killed in 9/11 while they were still attending high school at Chaminade. Dealing with both my mother and father being terminally ill this year, I can offer one thought: that our loved ones want us to make the most out of life when they pass on because as they watch down on us that is what they hope to see!

*** Posted by Charles H '93 on 2007-10-16 ***

I'm no relation; however, I feel it is important to offer my condolences for the family and friends of Michael. I'll always remember him.

Nathan Horn

*** Posted by Nathan Horn on 2007-09-11 ***

Dear Michael,

You worked with my husband William Gardner... He often talked about you... he called you "The Chaminade Kid", our son Gregory was a Junior at Chaminade when you and Bill passed away... Bill liked you very much... Who knew that one day your parents and I would meet and become friends and that we live 6 blocks away from each other-small world... We honor your memory and those of Cantor Fitzgerald employees... Rest in Peace Mike (The Chaminade Kid)

Sincerely,

Liz, Gregory '03 CHS and Andrew Gardner

*** Posted by Liz Gardner on 2007-09-11 ***

I think often of Michael with fond memories of our days at Chaminade High School. Mike was in mostly all of my classes. He was a friendly, outgoing, all around nice guy. I know wherever he is, he is smiling and watching over us. My thoughts are with his family.

*** Posted by Nick Coppola on 2007-02-04 ***

I didn't know Michael, but at my school memorial service for 9/11 I was given a bracelet with his name on it. I still have that bracelet, and I always say a little prayer for him when I wear it. Rest in Peace, Michael.

*** Posted by Catherine on 2006-09-17 ***

Thinking of you today as I do most days. Its always a Monday morning when I miss you most. Talks of your weekend escapades always made my day.

*** Posted by Russell Traub on 2006-09-11 ***

I think of your Michael at least a few time a week still.  I hope you are all doing good.  I know how precious Michael was.  He was one of a kind.  We all need to remember that each day is a gift and to never take family, friends and other things for granted.
Your are in my prayers always.
Love Kathy Kelly (Cregan)

*** Posted by Kathy Kelly on 2006-04-02 ***

I knew Mike in 1994 while a student at SUNY Binghamton. He was always friendly and outgoing, with entertaining tales of hijinks and love of family.

*** Posted by Mike Harvey on 2003-09-02 ***

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