The Friday Night Locker Room Remembers 9/11 Victim Beth Quigley – NEVER FORGET!

Selected at random by Friday Night Locker Room’s Steve Wilson and Orville Susong

Beth Quigley, a victim of 9/11, was selected at random by the Friday Night Locker Room’s Steve Wilson and Orville Susong to honor and remember on this, the 24^th anniversary of the attacks on our nation. Beth was working on the 104^th floor of the North Tower when American Airlines Flight 11 struck the tower approximately four floors below her office. She was trapped.

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – The two words, “Never Forget,” have a different meaning to different people. To me, and a lot of people my age, it means Never Forget what happened on September 11, 2001.

We owe it to those who perished during the 9/11 attacks that we Never Forget. Approximately 3,000 people lost their lives on that fateful day. These were ordinary people, like you and me, going about their daily routine.

Each year, my broadcasting/business partner, Orville Susong, and I randomly select one person who died during the attacks to put a name, a face, and a story with that individual.

This year, we selected Beth Quigley, a vibrant 25-year-old who worked on the 104th floor of the North Tower. When American Airlines Flight 11 struck the tower approximately four floors below her office, Beth was trapped.

I reached out to Beth’s sister, Dr. Suzanne Quigley, and told her what we are doing. She and her mom, Louella Quigley, collaborated, and the following is Beth’s story.

By Louella Quigley and Dr. Suzanne Quigley

Beth Quigley was born on Thursday, September 25, 1975. It was an extremely windy and rainy morning, but that did not deter her arrival.

As I think back to that special day she entered the world, I guess the weather conditions were a prelude to her character … feisty, strong, determined… to name a few. Even as a baby, her smile was bright and captivating. She was content to occupy herself and play using her imagination to the fullest. I remember that Beth did some “baby babbling” before she actually talked.

Although there were no clear words, you knew what she wanted, needed, or was telling you just by looking at her wonderful little face, those bright eyes, and her moving arms and hands. She made herself understood even as a baby. By the time she was a year and a half old, she was singing songs and entertaining, which became one of her specialties.

I recall sitting on the front step with her one warm evening, and an eight-year-old from a few houses away stopped by to see her. The topic of songs came up, and I told Beth that we should sing “Zippity Do Dah” for the girl. We started together, but I soon stopped and let Beth finish ¾ of the song alone.

Needless to say, the sight of our neighbor’s little eight-year­-old running home yelling that the “baby down the street can sing ‘Zippity Do Dah’ by herself and she’s not even two!” will always remain a treasured memory.

Beth’s thirst for learning began well before she officially entered school. By the time Beth entered kindergarten at St. Leo the Great School, Lincroft, NJ, she could read well thanks to her sister, Suzanne, who was two years older.

Beth would wait impatiently in the afternoon for “Zanne” to come home and beg her, “teach me, teach me”! In fact, she had to be dressed for “school” each day, just like Suzanne. Beth also had her own lunch box and backpack!

Beth’s interests were many and diversified. She took dance lessons at four years of age, which I think sparked her interest in performing on stage. She learned to play piano in fourth grade, began appearing in community theatre by fifth grade, and played softball and soccer in the Lincroft Little League.

However, I think the performing arts were her love. She was a cheerleader in seventh and eighth grade, contributed to the school newspaper, and became a main performer in St. Leo’s annual spring musicals. She managed to maintain an A average as she developed strong study and work ethics.

During her four years as a student at Red Bank Catholic High School, Red Bank, NJ, Beth volunteered in the community, diversified into student government and journalism, became keenly interested in Spanish language and culture, was elected to the National Honor Society in her junior year, and was selected to be co-captain of the cheerleading squad.

Beth especially enjoyed extracurricular activities such as parties, snow skiing and various water sports with her friends. However, prior to getting her car driver’s license, Beth at 12 years of age took a course to get her boating driver’s license in order to drive for her dad as he water skied on the Navesink River in Red Bank, NJ.

Throughout high school, Beth always held part-time jobs for several hours a week. She once again maintained excellent grades and succeeded in obtaining the goals she set for herself. She soaked in every facet of her high school years. I believe it was an AP course in high school finance that pointed her in the direction of stock trading. I remember her saying that she really liked watching the market. It excited her, she said.

At College of the Holy Cross, Beth double majored in Economics and Spanish. Her freshman year roommate, Lukie Jovel, became Beth’s close friend and remained her roommate until September 11. Her unquenchable thirst for knowledge and adventure led Beth to spend her junior year in Spain. While at the University of Seville in Seville, Spain, she immersed herself in the culture, specialized in Spanish literature and culture, became fluent in the language, and traveled extensively throughout Europe.

While she enjoyed this year immensely, Beth quickly grew more and more to be a proud American as she realized how great our lives and opportunities are in the USA that we tend to take so much for granted. Beth’s interests in economics and finance continued to pique her curiosity, leading her to the financial field.

Following her return from Spain, Beth commuted to Brooklyn to Chase Bank to complete an internship. It was the weeks of commuting that made her decide to Jive “in the city” if she ever accepted a job in NYC.

The first semester of senior year allowed Beth to interview on campus with many financial companies, including Cantor Fitzgerald, based in New York City’s World Trade Center. As a direct result of this campus interview, she was among five students from The College of the Holy Cross to be invited to “Super Saturday Interviews” at Cantor’s headquarters in NYC, which led to her being offered a position.

Beth’s career began in November 1997. Following completion of an intensive training program during which she earned several securities licenses, Beth was assigned in April 1998 as an Assistant Trader of NASDAQ/OTC stocks on Floor 104 of One World Trade Center. She enjoyed the dynamic marketplace and daily challenges and humbly appreciated that she had professional growth opportunities that many of her peers did not have with some other securities firms.

Although Beth was very happy with her position at Cantor Fitzgerald, she knew that continuing formal education was critical to her long­ term success. She applied to and was accepted into the MBA program at New York University’s Stem School of Business. She realized what an honor it was to attend Stem and anxiously awaited the start of this program. She had only attended two classes before September 11th. What a bright light was extinguished and a future cut short. She had so much to give.

Beth balanced work and play extremely well. She loved life and always had a smile for all who greeted her. Beth would usually be the first person to get her friends together for a good time, whether it be a party, a ski trip, a shopping trip, or just to meet for dinner.

She enjoyed all that life had to offer and was a participant, not just an observer. Whether she was putting someone in his/her place or flying down a mountain on skis, she didn’t hold much back. Beth let everyone know exactly what she thought and where she stood. These were some of the very best things about her because she let you share what she was feeling… Jike it or not, Beth was honest. She was not ashamed to show her feelings and look you in the face to let you know. As a result, she acquired many friends, and all respected her and appreciated her for what she was… true to herself. Her friends remain from kindergarten through college and the workplace. She was truly loved.

I have read and reread the many writings that Lukie Jovel so carefully collected and placed in a leather-bound book for us to cherish. Each memory written mentioned her smile and laughter and the sheer joy she showed in whatever she was doing at the time, whether it be eating a lobster, cooking a dinner, talking with a friend, or remembering a family member or friend’s birthday.

All who knew Beth, be it briefly or for many years, seem to use the exact words to describe her: strong, determined, intelligent, loyal, generous, compassionate, and full of life. We use the words that her sister, Suzanne, included in her eulogy, as an attempt to draw a more precise picture of Beth:

• Beth was better at being a true friend than most people could ever dream to be. She touched more people’s lives on a consistent basis than seems fathomable.

• She loved her Job and the people she worked with, which is much more than most can

• Her capacity to give love was That love is felt by all of us here today as well as by many who could not be here.

• She almost never missed a good time (unless she was studying for the GMATs).

• When she smiled, it made you feel part of her

• When she laughed, you were compelled to join

• She could just as easily get your back as give you a shoulder to cry

Perhaps Reyna Jovel, Lukie’s older sister, who has since died of a brain tumor, said it best… “the list of adjectives could go on and on, but the truth is that these are only words, and she was so much more. It was her spirit that gave these words so much meaning.”

Talking with Beth was informative, fun, and a pure joy. As her mother, I would always end with “stay safe, be well, and I love you.” Her reply was “I will, and I love you, too.” Yes, I will miss her every day and love her always, but I will try to live my life to honor her memory as I think she would want me to… with strength, love, and compassion.

I found the following poem somewhere, and I don’t know who wrote it, but I feel that these words are what Beth would say to all of us:

You can shed a tear that she is gone, Or you can smile because she has lived.

You can close your eyes and pray that she’ll come back, Or you can open your eyes and see all she’s left.

Your heart can be empty because you can’t see her, Or you can be full of the love you shared.

You can remember her and only that she’s gone, Or you can cherish her memory and let it live on.

You can cry and close your mind, Be empty and turn your back,

Or you can do what she would want… Smile, open your eyes, love, and go on.

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