9/11 25th Anniversary Remembrance: Karen Elizabeth Hagerty Was Killed on 9/11 in the World Trade Center in New York City
By Steve Wilson // September 8, 2026
Hagerty worked on the 101st floor of the North Tower at the World Trade Center in New York City
Karen Elizabeth Hagerty was tragically killed on 9/11 while working on the 101st floor of the North Tower at the World Trade Center in New York City. (legacy.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 about Karen Elizabeth Hagerty, who was tragically killed on 9/11 while working at the World Trade Center in New York City. Story courtesy of legacy.com.
Hagerty threw a birthday party recently for her horse, Ricardo. A caterer brought a carrot cake in the shape of a horseshoe. There were 40 non-equine guests, and goody bags for every horse in the barn.
“My sister loved her animals more than life,” Deborah Anne Hagerty said yesterday. “She called them her kids.”
Karen, 34, was a senior vice president for Aon Risk Services in the World Trade Center.
She was loud, funny, and inclined to take charge. When two of Deborah’s friends called Karen to start planning a bridal shower for Deborah, they found Karen had already done it all.
Years ago, Deborah told Karen about a homeless shelter in the Bronx; Deborah was looking for people to buy presents for children who had written to Santa. “Give me the whole shelter,” Karen said. Her office would overflow with donated toys.
“She just hounded everyone in her office,” Deborah said. “She had to hire a moving truck last year because she had so much stuff. She told everybody, ‘I want you to buy something, and it has to be good.’ She was really tough: ‘Don’t give me a scarf. Kids don’t like scarves.'”
This article is sponsored by Erdman Automotive and Craig Technologies.
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.
