In Memoriam: Todd D. Pelino

Todd D. Pelino.

Not a household name, not a famous man. A 34-year-old New Jersey guy, Todd was an ordinary American like you and me. But his is one of 2,996 names that will forever be connected with the worst terrorist attack on our nation's soil. Todd died on September 11, 2001, at the World Trade Center in New York City.

Todd was a power broker at Cantor Fitzgerald. In a quest to find out who Todd was, I discovered that he was an all-American guy. Talented athlete. Graduate of Colgate University. Married six years to Megan Pezzuti. Father of two. In fact, that fateful day began with a tender phone call to his young son, as reported by the Rochester News:

Two hours before the terrorist attack, Todd D. Pelino called his 2-year-old son from his office in the World Trade Center to wish him well on his first day of nursery school.

The next time the Pittsford native called, he was telling his wife, Megan, that he loved her and their two young children, and he would try to get down from the 107th floor of the burning building.

''In some respects she gets some solace from knowing that she talked to him,'' said his father, Douglas Pelino.

Todd worked on the 101st floor of WTC 1 (the north tower). At 8:45 a.m., an airliner struck the tower. He probably never had a chance.

Todd D. Pelino. Just a guy at his job. An innocent victim of senseless hate.

Rest in peace, Todd. Rest in peace.

For more on Todd ...
Rochester Democrat & Chronicle keyword search
Legacy.com guestbook entries
ObituaryRegistry.com entry
"2996" tribute to the 9/11 victims