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THE WEEK OF MAY 2, 2002
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Honor Of WTC Victim
Glendale’s Massari Was Top Student
by Rob MacKay
The family of Glendale resident Patricia Cimaroli Massari, who died in the September 11 terrorist attack, has established a scholarship in her name at Berkeley College.
Awarded annually beginning this September, the merit-based financ
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Patricia Cimaroli Massari
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The Cimaroli and Massari families have donated more than $15,000 in contributions from friends and family toward the scholarship.
Known for her warmth and love for cats, Patricia Massari was a working capital analyst at Marsh & McLennan who worked on the 98th Floor of Tower One. She was talking to her husband, Louis, when the first plane rammed into the building.
Both 25, the Massaris had been married for two years, but they had known each other since they were 15. On the morning of September 11, they had found out that Patricia was pregnant.
The Massaris worked full time while trying to finish up school. Patricia even had an exam in world civilization at Berkeley on the night of the attack. She was pursuing her Baccalaureate degree in Business Administration—Accounting after having received an Associate’s degree in 1996 with Highest Honors. (On May 3, 2001, she was honored as Berkeley’s Alumna of the Year.)
“It is with a profound sense of pride that Berkeley College announces the creation of the Patricia Cimaroli Massari Memorial Scholarship,” said Berkeley President Dr. Mildred García last week. “As a 4.0 graduate of our Class of 1996, the first recipient of the J.P. Morgan Scholarship, and our 2001 Alumna of the Year, Patricia was a shining star at Berkeley College. Her decision to return to the College to pursue her Baccalaureate degree was a testament to her commitment to attain her career goals through education. And her death on September 11, 2001 left behind a pathway to excellence that will be a road map for future generations of students.”
Louis Massari has since received an Associate’s degree from Berkeley. He added: “This scholarship will give someone an opportunity to make something of themselves, just as Patricia did. Her family and I know that this is what Patricia would have wanted. We hope that all recipients of this scholarship will be able to realize the same dreams that Patricia had, and that when the day comes for their graduation, they will smile as brightly as Patricia, knowing that she is their guardian angel.”
Dr. García continued: “There are no words that can express our sympathy to the Cimaroli and Massari families here with us today. In this time of great tragedy, you had the courage to think beyond your grief and to focus on how Patricia would want to be remembered. We are deeply honored that you have chosen her second home here at Berkeley College to immortalize her legacy with the creation of a scholarship in her name.”
Berkeley is continuing to accept donations to this scholarship fund. Contributions should be made out to: Patricia Cimaroli Massari Scholarship Fund (ECTF), Attn: Keith Green, Berkeley College, 44 Rifle Camp Road, West Paterson, NJ 07424.