Monday, September 11, 2006

Dominick Calia Tribute

(This entry will be bumped to the top through Monday, 9/11)
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In preparing this memorial tribute, one thing I noticed as I searched for more information was just how many people left comments about Dominick at the various memorial sites I visited. This was a man who was loved by many and is missed by even more.

Dominick would have been 45 this year, only a couple of years older than me. He was a municipal band broker and worked for Cantor Fitzgerald. After seeing a photo of him, I can imagine him in his daily work routine, easy going, hard working, with a ready smile and genuine affection for those around him. He had worked for Cantor Fitzgerald for eight years, and his wife Janet recalled, "He hardly ever missed a day of work, he hardly ever called in sick. He just loved doing what he did."

But work was NOT the most important aspect of Dominick’s life.

Devoted husband and father of three, his life was centered on his family. Between coaching little league for his son and running between multiple soccer practices and games for his daughters, he gave each of his children individual attention. "He managed to give each child an individual amount of time," Janet Calia recalled of her husband. "He felt sports gives children confidence, camaraderie and teaches them to play as a team." He also recognized the importance of spending individual time with just his wife. On the weekend before he died, after coaching little league on Friday, the kids went to spend the night with their grandparents and Dominick took Janet to Cape May and Atlantic City. After spending the first night alone together in quite some time, they came back home on Saturday for back-to-back soccer games for the girls.

Dominick children are now 17, 14, and 12 and I wonder how they will be remembering their dad this year. Even though he’s not here to see his eldest daughter graduate from high school, or his son become a teenager, I hope and believe that they do have many wonderful memories of their dad. After he died, his son, Dominick Richard Calia, wanted to change his middle name so he can be Dominick Jr. "My son is 7 years old," Janet Calia said at the time. "I tell him, `The seven years you had with dad is a lifetime, and some people don't even get that. It's the quality, not the quantity, that counts.' "

When I read that they held a memorial at St. Thomas More Roman Catholic Church in Manalapan for Dominick, I knew why this man had been chosen for me to memorialize. While I never knew Dominick in this life, as a Catholic I know that we are part of the same family. I know that Dominick is still a part of his family’s life through his prayers and intercessions for them. He is still at every game, every event, and while not in the way I’m sure his family would prefer, I hope they know how very much he IS still with them all.

Thank you Dominick Calia, for the example you gave us in your life, and please pray for us now, that more fathers and families will follow your example.



Click 'Read More' for more information-



Legacy

9-11 Heroes

In Memoriam

United in Memory

Quilt


Please be sure to read some of the other tributes as well, you can find them all here-

2,996 Project




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17 Comments:

At September 09, 2006 11:14 PM, Blogger Donna. W said...

This is an amazing tribute. I'm honored to be a part of the 2,996 Project.

http://journals.aol.com/mosie1944/MYCOUNTRYLIFE/

 
At September 10, 2006 2:19 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

A wonderful tribute~ thanks so much for your insight into Mr. Calia's life.

 
At September 10, 2006 2:59 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

That was very sweet.

Dave in Texas

 
At September 10, 2006 4:11 PM, Blogger Meira{FB} said...

So many children without fathers because of this tragedy.

Your tribute is very well done.

mine is up also.

 
At September 10, 2006 5:29 PM, Blogger Cathy said...

Well done! I've read so many tributes and feel such pride in the blogging community. How wonderful for so many people to take the time and effort. Good people, honoring good people who have been lost to us. I feel very proud to be a part of it.

 
At September 10, 2006 7:09 PM, Blogger The WordSmith from Nantucket said...

It must be particularly hard on children who lost a parent.

I think giving life to their memories by making their stories felt and heard as far and wide as possible is a way to salvage the wastefulness and senselessness of their deaths. In life, their lives had meaning; so too, in death, shall the meaningfulness of their lives carry on.

Thank you, Kyrie. God bless Mr. Calia.

 
At September 10, 2006 8:33 PM, Blogger Alicia said...

That was lovely. Thanks for your writing and insight. He was chosen for you for a reason--and you for him! I will pray for Dominick Calia and his family.

 
At September 11, 2006 12:50 AM, Blogger Alicia said...

Another 2996 blogger here... it's so moving to read all of these tributes. We are all connected by these stories

-- Pentha

Tribute to Christopher Paul Slattery

 
At September 11, 2006 1:48 AM, Blogger Karmyn R said...

Being a part of this tribute has been a wonderful journey. Thank you for making my stop along the way even more meaningful. Well written tribute to someone gone too soon!

 
At September 11, 2006 8:11 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

What a wonderful tribute.
I now know more about this man.
It's so sad that so many lives ended that day.

 
At September 11, 2006 8:52 AM, Blogger Raggedy said...

That was a beautiful tribute to Dominick!
Thank you.
These are sad and hard to read....
I am honored to be a part of this project.
Mine is posted also...
The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort,
but where he stands at times of challenge
and controversy. ~Martin Luther King, Jr.

Bless you...

 
At September 11, 2006 11:32 AM, Blogger Kyrie Drake said...

Thank you all for your comments!

Please be sure to read my other tribute, to Col. Golinski who died at the Pentagon. It's right above Dominick's, here-
Col. Golinski

 
At September 11, 2006 12:25 PM, Blogger kateandjona said...

A touching tribute, thanks for sharing.

Jonathon's Closet remembers Robert Levine, also a Cantor employee.

 
At September 11, 2006 8:14 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Thanks for this sensitive and caring tribute!

 
At September 12, 2006 1:07 AM, Blogger bernie said...

Touching tribute, thank you. I may have to stop reading tonight, I ran out of Kleenex.


I linked your tribute at 2996 tribute to victims of 9/11 - Terrence E Adderley

 
At September 21, 2008 12:37 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Is this the same kind I went to P.S. 20 in South Ozone Park Queens NY for 4 - 6th grade? I am now 47, so the age seems right. He was a sweet kid who scraped the salt off his pretzel sticks before he ate them and was always a little gentleman. I really liked Dominick. Lisa Commissiong former classmate

 
At September 09, 2009 12:42 PM, Blogger Het said...

Thank you for beautifully remembering Dominick Calia.

 

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