The Law School Holds 9-11 Memorial Fountain Dedication

While the passage of time may put distance between the tragic events of a clear blue, late-summer Tuesday morning and the nation that witnessed them in horror, the spirits of the individuals who lost their lives during the terrorist attacks of September 11 remain close in all of our hearts.  The Law School suffered a tremendous loss when Daniel R. Brandhorst (LL.M. '93), Mark Brisman '92, Carol Keyes Demitz '77, John Perry '89, Christopher Quackenbush '82 and Clarin Siegel Schwartz (LL.M. '78) were killed at the World Trade Center in 2001.  Four years later, on a similarly picturesque morning in Lower Manhattan, members of the NYU School of Law family congregated to dedicate a memorial fountain in memory of these six unique individuals.

The evocative monument, designed by architect Michael Van Valkenburgh, is situated in the southwest corner of the courtyard of Vanderbilt Hall, and is intended to create a communal gathering space for students and faculty to sit and converse at nearby tables.  Van Valkenburgh constructed the rectangular fountain out of jagged slabs of bluestone. “Commemorating loss is an ancient act, an artful abstraction of emotion to physical artifact,” Van Valkenburgh said of his memorial. “Our stacked-stone monument hopes to capture moments of reflection and contemplation with its rough, yet refined composition of material and form.”

The 9-11 memorial fountain, located outside Vanderbilt Hall. The plaque mounted at the east end of the foundtain reads: Dedicated to the memory of all those who perished in the attack on the United States of America on September 11, 2001, especially our graduates: Daniel R. Brandhorst (LL.M. '93); Mark Brisman '92; Carol Keyes Demitz '77; John Perry '89; Christopher Quackenbush '82; Clarin Siegel Schwartz (LL.M. '78)

Dean Richard Revesz made brief opening remarks welcoming guests and emphasizing that the courtyard is the geographical heart of the Law School—now even more so. “A day like today is important nourishment for the soul of our community, and for the soul of each of us,” agreed NYU President John Sexton (who was the dean of the Law School at the time of the attacks). Sexton focused not on September 11, 2001 but on a Yankees/Red Sox game he attended with his son Jed, trustee Leonard Wilf and Chris Quackenbush the night before. Roger Clemens was scheduled to pitch, and the foursome was excited about watching the Yankees play their archrivals.  To their dismay, the game was called due to rain, and unfortunately, as a result, Quackenbush was able to show up early the next morning at the World Trade Center offices of Sandler O'Neill & Partners.

The days that followed September 11 were defined by a strong sense of community in and around the Law School.  President Sexton recalled the Quaker-like memorials held daily at the fountain in Washington Square Park.  On the Thursday that followed 9-11, a first-year student from Atlanta confessed that he had never been outside his home state, and was terrified about staying in New York at first.  But, he said, the way the Law School had banded together made him feel now, that he couldn’t be anywhere else.

Dean Revesz personally thanked university board chair Martin Lipton, as well as trustees Bill Williams and Brian Schorr for their participation in bringing the memorial fountain to fruition.  Trustee Paul Francis ‘80, who, more than anyone, had made it a personal mission to create a memorial, in closing urged guests to, “Remember not a terrible day, but the spirits of six people.”

Revesz concluded the dedication ceremony by asking everyone to pause for a moment of silent reflection, during which the background noise of a typical New York morning signified that the city continues; unbowed—but not forgetful.

–Graham M. Reed