Bruce E. Simmons, Who Died At The World Trade Center, Honored At Hackettstown 9/11 Event

HACKETTSTOWN, NJ — Hackettstown officials, first responders and residents remembered the 2,977 lives lost on Sept. 11, 2001, including a man from Hackettstown who died at the World Trade Center.

The Memorial event took place at the Hackettstown Municipal Building by the 9/11 monument this past Saturday morning, with Mayor Jerry DiMaio among the speakers.

First responders from Hackettstown, veterans groups and dignitaries took part in the ceremony; and two that especially touched hearts were Bruce E. Simmons' mother Flo and sister Missy, a keynote speaker at Hackettstown’s remembrance.

Bruce Simmons died in the World Trade Center’s South Tower that day, after the second plane hit that tower, striking the floors below the 104th, where he worked.

There’s a tribute for Simmons at Hackettstown High School, who graduated with the Class of 1978. He was known not only for his talents on the football field, but "for being a great guy, friends with everybody."

At the time of the attacks, Simmons, 41, worked for Sandler O'Neill & Partners and was a Ridgewood resident where he lived with his wife Kathy and their children Meghan, Jack and Emma, according to his obituary.

Read more at Lehigh Valley Live.

Questions or comments about this story? Have a news tip? Contact me at: jennifer.miller@patch.com.