At Stonehenge with sister Heather in 2000
College graduation from Bentley 1999
Connecticut's 9/11 Living Memorial
Boston Public Garden 9/11 Memorial
Conseleya 9/11 Memorial
Dewitt 9/11 Memorial
Montclair State University 9/11 Memorial
East Newark 9/11 Memorial
Fair Haven 9/11 Memorial
Freehold Township 9/11 Living Memorial Tree Grove
Crescent Beach Park - Flagpole/Memorial for 9/11 Victims
Born on June 20, 1977, Amy was raised in Avon. She was a 1995 graduate of Avon High School, and a 1999 graduate of Bentley College. She was employed by Thomson Financial in Boston and lived in Newton. Amy was in New York attending a technology conference in the World Trade Center.
She loved music and art. Besides her parents, Amy is survived by her sister, Heather of Canton; her maternal grandparents, Ernest and Salena Blake of Longmeadow, MA; her paternal grandparents, Morris and Dora Toyen of Canton and Delray Beach, FL; her fiance, Jeffrey Gonski of Watertown, MA; and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. We will dearly miss her.
New York Times Portraits of Grief
To catch her early flight on Sept. 11, Amy E. Toyen arose in Boston at 4 a.m. so she could arrive in New York City at 6:45 a.m., in plenty of time to attend the trade show in Windows on the World at 1 World Trade Center. Ms. Toyen, 24, was demonstrating a software product of her company, Thomson Financial in Boston, when her fiancé, Jeffrey Gonski, got a call at 8:58 a.m. — his caller ID showed it was her cellphone — but when he answered, no one was there.
They were engaged to be married next June 16. Mr. Gonski had met Ms. Toyen at their alma mater, Bentley College in Waltham, Mass., and had managed to pull off an elaborate proposal. Last spring he planned a vacation with her to Canada, then surprised her at the airport with a flight for two to Ireland — her favorite place. Then he stunned her again by proposing there, in a romantic locale on the Dingle Peninsula. How could she possibly have said no?
"We had just ordered her wedding dress," said her father, Martin Toyen. "She was so happy in her life — a woman in love, who loved her job."
My family and I went to visit
My family and I went to visit the 9/11 memorial on July 9, 2012. Not having personally known anyone who perished on 9/11 we walked around the South pool and proceeded to the North pool. My husband took a picture of my daughter at the North pool and as I walked over I looked down at where my daughter was standing and saw the name "Amy Elizabeth Toyen" and I was awestruck. We live in Burlington, CT and the closest story to us that came out of 9/11 was of the woman from Avon, CT who died on the 106th floor of the North Tower. That woman was Amy Toyen. If we had wanted to find her name that day it may have been so difficult to do but instead we happened to walk over to the North pool and that was the one name I happened to look down to see. It sent chills through all of us and we felt a special connection to a woman we never even had the privilege to meet and yet know so much about. Our thoughts are with her family.
Posted by Nicole
Twenty years ago I took a
Twenty years ago I took a picture of a young lady with a bright smile as she walked into my classroom at Avon High School on the first day of school. Amy Toyen was energetic, kind, and creative. In world history class she would light up whenever I brought out the markers crayons and paper for mural projects. She died almost exactly ten years to the day after I took her picture. Since then I have been tempted to rummage through the pictures I had taken of students over the years to look for Amys but my grief prevented me from doing so. Recently I read that Amy s parents mustered the courage to visit the memorial in New York on the tenth anniversary. If they could face their emotions I figured I could too. After twenty years I found Amys picture and although I had to fight back the tears I used her story along with the words of her fiance to teach my students a lesson in tolerance. Amy may have passed but we are all better for having known her and hopefully a new generation of children will be more tolerant than those who came before them.
Published by Timothy M Curtis
Amy Toyen
I worked with Amy at Thomson Financial in Boston back in 2001. I was a Sales Representative and worked closely with the marketing department. Amy was ubiquitous bright and cheery presence in the office with an indelible smile. What a wonderful quality that is in someone.... Always having a smile. I will never forget that morning. I will never for Amy. May God bless her soul and family.
Posted by Curtis J Reuschel
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