Flowers For The Fallen: Montclair Mourns 9/11 Victims

MONTCLAIR, NJ — For the past 22 years, Bob Russo has been placing flowers at the 9/11 monument in Watchung Plaza, which honors the nine Montclair residents who died in the September 11 attacks. It’s a ritual that he repeated on the 23rd anniversary of the terrorist attacks, paying his tributes on Wednesday along with other mourners and community members.

Russo, a former councilman who was mayor at the time of the tragedies, told Patch that he will “never forget the nine Montclair families who lost members – the most of any town in Essex County.”

In Montclair, the victims included:

• Michael L. Collins, 38
• Caleb Arron Dack, 39
• Emeric J. Harvey, 56
• Scott M. Johnson, 26
• Howard L. Kestenbaum, 56
• Robert M. Murach, 45
• David Lee Pruim, 53
• Ron Ruben, 26
• Michael Stewart, 42

Many of the flowers that were laid on the memorial were the offerings of Montclair resident Lissa Collins, the widow of Michael Collins. Along with her relatives, Collins made large Hawaiian floral arrangements for the occasion, as they have done in the past.

Russo, who said he was representing Mayor Renee Baskerville and the town council, also paid homage to the victims at another local memorial, the Ron Ruben 9/11 memorial beam at Montclair High School (article continues below).

Mayor Baskerville urged local residents to remember the moments that united the community in the wake of the attacks.

"Today, we collectively take time to remember and reflect on the events of September 11, 2001," Baskerville said. "We remember the lives lost, the families impacted, and the countless others who were affected by the day’s horrific events. Our Montclair suffered the loss of nine community members. They were friends, neighbors, parents, families, and loved ones. Their memories live on with us, and in the spirit of Montclair, today and every day."

The mayor continued:

"While September 11th is a reminder of how frail life is, it should also serve as a reminder of the importance of unity and community. Following 9/11 we stood united in our strength and determined in our resolve. Today we remain unified in our dedication to never forget those who lost their lives 23 years ago today. Let us remember and admire the bravery of the first responders, the strength of the survivors, and the compassion of those who came together in a display of strength in the wake of such a cowardly and devastating event. We collectively vowed to never concede to those looking to undermine us. We looked for strength from those around us. We offered support to those in need. We emerged stronger than ever."

"We must remain conscious of these moments that unite us," Baskerville added. "We must never forget the strength that came from pulling together. We must look to what unites us and remain dedicated to fostering the collective strength that Montclair has to offer. My thoughts and prayers remain with all of you on this day."

Other mourners in Montclair included the Montclair Firefighters Foundation, which said its members are taking time to “remember, honor and mourn the loss of all those who sacrificed their lives.”

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