9/11 25th Anniversary Remembrance: Charles Francis Xavier Heeran Rose Quickly as Bond Trader at Cantor Fitzgerald
By Steve Wilson // August 22, 2026
Heeran worked at the World Trade Center in New York City
Charles Francis Xavier Heeran was tragically killed on 9/11 while working at the World Trade Center in New York City. (Image: facebook.com)
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – In remembrance of the 25th anniversary of 9/11, the Friday Night Locker Room’s Steve Wilson randomly selected 25 people who were killed on that tragic day.
Space Coast Daily will release one story per day leading up to September 11, 2026. Today’s story is of Charles Francis Xavier Heera. Story courtesy of legacy.com.
#21: Charles Francis Xavier Heeran gave up a promotion to stay in New York City.
Only 23 and a little more than a year out of college, Mr. Heeran had risen quickly as a bond trader at Cantor Fitzgerald.
But when he was offered a promotion that meant moving to the company’s London office, he declined.
“He wanted to stay near his friends and family,” said his father, Bernard Heeran.
A natural extrovert, Mr. Heeran loved to get together with people.
His great-aunt Bernadette Hay Griffin said, “He was a great organizer of parties. He would gather 30 people and go to `Tony and Tina’s Wedding,’ ” the long-running Off Broadway show.
He was also generous with his friends. His father said: “He was always buying cocktails to get the party going. He wasn’t tight with a buck.”
Mr. Heeran grew up in Rockaway Beach, Queens, and went to Xavier High School in Manhattan. He was one of 10 Xavier graduates and 16 twins who disappeared in the World Trade Center on Sept. 11.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Steve Wilson was born in DeRidder, Louisiana, and grew up in both New Orleans and Macon, Georgia. He moved to Brevard County in 1984 and retired from local government as the Community Advocate/Assistant to the City Manager with the City of Rockledge in 2018.
Among the awards and accolades Steve has received over the years are 15 + year Rockledge Little League volunteer, Brevard Public School Jefferson Award Recipient, Rockledge High School Raider Booster Award 2001, 2006, City of Rockledge Employee of the Year 2006, Rockledge Kiwanian of the Year 2006-2007, City of Rockledge Quality Public Service Award 2008, 2012, 2017, Rockledge Kiwanis Citizen of the Year 2012-2013, Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame – Sportscasting 2015, Rockledge High School Leadership and Service Award 2016, Central Florida Humanitarian Award 2017, Space Coast Inspiration Award – 2018, Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame – Lifetime Achievement – 2020, Ecofest Achievement Award – 2022, Quality Floridian Award – 2022, presented by U.S. Congressman Bill Posey, Florida House District 32 Constituent of the Week 4/20/25.
Wilson is especially proud of chairing two fundraisers in support of pediatric cancer research through the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, in honor of Merritt Island resident Julie Spurlock, that raised over $25,000.00.
He has been a partner, along with Orville Susong, for the past 27 years with the Friday Night Locker Room, a broadcasting team that covers and reports on a wide variety of local events significant to residents of the Space Coast and beyond. Their mission is to promote youth sports, support first responders and law enforcement personnel, and showcase community and charitable events that are produced by our nonprofit partners in central Florida.
The Friday Night Locker Room has awarded hundreds of sports achievement plaques to Brevard County student-athletes over the years. They have also awarded more than $18,000 in academic scholarships to Brevard County high school seniors.
