Memories from a vanished life

December 26, 2001 12:07 PM

Memories from a vanished life Paul Battaglia died in the World Trade Center attacks. His Web page, however, lives on, complete with photos of his now-crumbled office and the view he once had. He also had a Blogger-powered Weblog on the front of his site, the last post of which is on Aug. 23.
posted by GaelFC (22 comments total)

And here is his obituary from the NY Times. Their Portraits of Grief series is so simple, yet so powerful.
posted by GaelFC at 12:10 PM on December 26, 2001

That's one of the most jarring and tragic things I've seen lately, for some reason. I need to go outside for a while.
posted by 40 Watt at 12:15 PM on December 26, 2001

Wow. This is sad. This post from August 20th:

"I will be posting to this as often as possible and this should make the site "fresher" for all you PB fans out there. Much more is coming...".

If only he knew. Damn.
posted by KevinSkomsvold at 12:15 PM on December 26, 2001

I've got a knot in my stomach...aaah...
posted by feelinglistless at 12:23 PM on December 26, 2001

Some thoughts on this sort of thing from back in the day.
posted by endquote at 12:26 PM on December 26, 2001

He was a station manager for WHRW, 90.5 Binghamton, a college radio station. I spent a lot of time there as a panel member on The Mad Trivia Party--which stil airs every tuesday night--during his reign.
posted by wenham at 12:32 PM on December 26, 2001

If you don't want to break your heart any more, don't read his guestbook, which includes a Christmas post from his mom and dad.
posted by GaelFC at 12:36 PM on December 26, 2001

Nor the posts from 9/11: "Hey Paul are you alright? You weren't in there were you?"
posted by MrMoonPie at 12:40 PM on December 26, 2001

My head is on my desk, the knot that has never really left my stomach this fall is feeling tighter. Did any one else see the article in the NY Times re: Marsh's (his employer) handling of heath insurance.
posted by mmm at 1:05 PM on December 26, 2001

make that health insurance
posted by mmm at 1:05 PM on December 26, 2001

Wow. I've often thought about what would happen with my site if I were to die. *shiver*
posted by fooljay at 1:41 PM on December 26, 2001

From that New York Times article on Marsh, linked above, comes the most damning quote I have ever seen:

"Barbara Minervino, 53, whose husband, Louis J. Minervino, was a senior vice president with 21 years at the company, is among them. She takes 22 pills a day for diabetes and other ailments. 'If my husband had a body and I had buried it, he would be rolling over in his grave right now,' she said. 'He would be so angry.'"
posted by ftrain at 1:50 PM on December 26, 2001

Man, those September entries in the guestbook are truly heart-shattering.
posted by XiBe at 1:54 PM on December 26, 2001

Too powerful for words. 4000 times over. Shattered again.
posted by D at 2:15 PM on December 26, 2001

my friend david also worked at marsh, on the 100th floor. it's hard to see these photos.
posted by judith at 2:20 PM on December 26, 2001

I needed to be reminded.
posted by Mack Twain at 7:41 PM on December 26, 2001

I haven't felt as close to a wtc victim as I felt when I read those guestbook entries.
posted by matt324 at 5:59 AM on December 27, 2001

The guestbook is heartbreaking, yes, but yet so beautiful. An incredibly honest outpouring of not only concern for Paul's whereabouts and grief for his loss, but all this joy in the memory of his life and the people he touched. He was no statesman, no celebrity, yet he was able to positively affect the lives of so many people.

And he continues to do so.

It makes you consider just how many lives you have affected, just by living your life and being who you are.
posted by grabbingsand at 6:43 AM on December 27, 2001

Ouch. Very ouch. What a grounding experience to see that, let alone the people who knew him. Makes the shit I was mad about this morning much more trivial.
posted by adampsyche at 6:49 AM on December 27, 2001

Ouch again, from his European trip journal:

"Check-in went smoothly after I admitted I was "just kidding" when I told them that a Muslim guy hanging around the airport asked me to check some baggage for him."
posted by perorate at 8:36 AM on December 27, 2001

Ironic. Ironic. Ironic.
posted by {savg*pncl} at 7:59 PM on December 27, 2001

Just a note to say I received the nicest e-mail from Paul's parents, thanking me for posting the original link. They have been touched by everyone who has visited his site and posted such nice things in Paul's guestbook.

I admit I was a little wary when I originally posted the link--the last thing I wanted to do was invade the family's privacy--but after reading the wonderful note from his father, I am glad I posted the link.
posted by GaelFC at 11:20 AM on January 2, 2002