Paul James Battaglia | Voices Center for Resilience

Dear Paul and family

I am so sorry for your loss. I'm a student a stafford highschool and the other day we were watching many videos on 9/11 in my history class. To me all these videos just made me angry and upset with the terrorists but then i thought to myself I have to realize that it isn't just me who is hurting... I can t imagine how hard it is for you guys! He was so young and innocent! I bet he a great guy with an awesome personality! I hope all of his friends comfort you guys (the Battaglia family). I know I really cant comfort you but I am glad that I can say to you guys that the seals finally took down Osama Bin Laden! It took 10 years but now we can sleep knowing he won t ruin anyone else's life! Again I m sorry for your loss and your son Paul J. Battaglia will be in my prayers tonight. Just like everyone else who loss their poor lives on 9/11! God Bless you guys for being strong! -Cole

Posted by Cole F

I’m really sorry for your…

I’m really sorry for your lost, I can’t imagine the pain that you feel... but looking to this photos I could realize that he was very loved by his family and I know that he was a happy guy. His smile was lovely, contagious and full of life, i’m sure that he was a guy full of life... this was a tragedy, i can’t never accept this, and looking to this photos, to his smile, i feel so mad that the life was taken from him that way... i can’t imagine your pain, but i have empathy to put myself in your shoes and i share some of your pain. I wasn’t even born in 9/11, i’m almost 19 years old, i was born in 2002 and i’m not american, i’m brazilian so you can see that the whole world are with you until today... we’ll never forget...

Happy Birthday Paul - January 2, 2022

I randomly thought about you today and remembered your old website, now long gone. A google search lead me to here, along with the realization that today would have been your birthday. I recognize that it's been over 20 years since you died. Yet there are still those of us who still remember when you were here and how funny, energetic and inspiring you were. It was a pleasure working with you in college at the radio station and thank goodness I heard those recordings of the jazz broadcasts you used to do.

Posted by Shirley Grace

You were a brave man

Hearing your voice in your call to 911 while watching NatGeo's documentary "First Response" brought me here. I was hoping to hear you had somehow escaped. It was a vain hope, but hope nonetheless, and that brand of hope is what prompted you to call for help with all those terrified and confused people around you. I could tell you were terrified too, because why the hell wouldn't you be, but you still had the presence of mind to get that phone out and dial that number when most others hands would have been shaking so violently the phone would have gone straight onto the floor.

This year was the 21st anniversary of that horrendous day, and its impact on our world and our society is still felt, and in no positive way, let me tell you. My only solace is that you aren't around to suffer through it as we are.

Posted by Daniel G of Australia

Rest In Peace Paul Battaglia

I was not alive during 9/11, but I know it was a very sad and tragic day that took many lives of which included yours. I never knew you, but just by looking at the pictures, I can tell that you were a very happy, vibrant, positive man and you were always smiling. The smile of yours could brighten anyones day. It’s so sad to see those old pictures of you, looking very happy and full of life and now knowing you are no longer here… The last phone call you made is very sad. You and your co-workers were terrified but you still had the courage to dial the emergency number and plead help. Unfortunately help wasn’t able to reach all. You were only 22 years old and just beginning your life. It isn’t fair. It could make anyone mad knowing how someone so joyful and happy just like you could be taken from this earth so soon. So many peoples lives cut short and it’s very sad. You would’ve been 44 years old today and possibly married to the woman you were planning on proposing on. I wish people were still able to take a look of that smile of yours. May you Rest In Peace, Paul James Battaglia. You will always be missed by your friends and family. You will never be forgotten. Hope the afterlife is treating you well. R.I.P ALL VICTIMS OF 9/11 .

Posted by "Georgehow"

Teachings

It's so strange how I can feel sad about the death of someone I didn't even know and who has been gone for 22 years. The audio of his call touched me a lot, the despair in his voice, but also the hope. I'm 26 years old today and I can't imagine what it was like for a 22 year old to go through that. Looking at his photos here, I can see that he was a happy young man, who liked to be surrounded by his friends and family. I have the impression that he would have really enjoyed seeing the advancement of the internet. Rest in peace Paul. Your story arrived in Brazil.

Posted by Letícia B.

Reflections of Today

To Paul and his family,

On the day of 9/11, I wasn't even old enough to burn the memory of that day into my mind. I was little more than a year old at the time, and I grew up in the immediate aftermath of that terrible day. Learning of its events and the seeming constant new developments in what was made publicly available was a normal part of my existence throughout my school years, and learning of the many faces and voices that became unwillingly involved in the tragedy was so commonplace. I only recently stumbled upon your phone call to 9-1-1, Paul, and it really struck me in such a way that I've never before experienced in learning more about those who lost their lives that day. I am now older than you were then, only just. It's a very strange thing to realize - that life has continued on for so long since. Even now, there is the strangest kind of dissonance in the air. You, and all the other innocent people whose lives were claimed in the name of hatred and violence, should still be here. There's no denying that.

From what I've gathered about you, you were quite the light in the lives of those who knew and loved you. I know each and every one of them will never forget the impact that you had, the presence you occupied. Your online footprint remains, even today, if only in part. It's been quite a pleasure seeing your photography and the everyday moments that captivated you. The world needs the same whimsy and kindness you exuded, now more than ever. To the family, I wish you nothing but absolute peace and solace. Know that Paul is still affecting others in positive ways - people that never had the privilege of knowing him, ourselves. Paul and all who shared his fate will never be forgotten, and they are so loved by this great nation of ours. You are all in my thoughts today.

Posted by Bray M.

Wondering what life woulda been like for ya today?

Hey Paul, Evan here. Somehow got to talking about friends who passed on with my 13 year old daughter and of course thought of you and we listened to your call and I reminisced how you were the first person I met at Binghamton. It was orientation and I think it was a meeting for people in the PWC SOM honors society and you were so friendly and introduced yourself and when I said I had interested in finance and might want to be a stock broker you lit up and said a man after my own heart. Your personality was bigger than your smile and I wonder to think of the glorious kids you would have brought up in these trying times.

They say you die twice…once when you physically pass and then again when the last person who remembers you passes and reading these tributes even from those who didn’t know you makes me smile because it lets me know that even though you aren’t here physically any longer, you’ll probably outlive all of us who knew you…and that’s just like you Paul, to rise to the top no matter what. Hope you are well in the next phase of whatever is going on and maybe our spirits will pass again someday.Rest easy.

Posted by Evan M

We Remember

22 years later and people still visit this page because he and all of the 9/11 victims will never be forgotten. You had a beautiful smile that inspires me to smile more. RIP Paul Battaglia.

Posted by Anonymous

Never forgetting the day

God bless, rest in peace

Posted by Anonymous

Paul looks like a cool guy!

Hey I’m 20 years old and from Long Island. Obviously I wasn’t born before 9/11 and always get interested when the date comes around. I always like to learn about the victims and what they were like. Reading about Paul seems to me that he’s a really cool guy! I hope those memories of Paul from loved ones will live on.

Posted by Mandy

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Remembering Paul

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Age:

Place of Residence:

Brooklyn, NY

Location on 9/11:

One WTC

Occupation:

Marsh & McLennan | Risk Consultant

Dedicated Memorial Sites:

Brooklyn Remembers Memorial
Marsh & McLennan September 11th Memorial
Binghamton University Memorial Courtyard
Queen Elizabeth II September 11 Memorial Garden
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

Personal Memorial Website:

http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2001/memorial/people/3675.html

Reflections:

The New York Times Portraits of Grief
Paul J. Battaglia Memorial Scholarship Fund

Marsh Memorial Dedication

Education:

Regis High School

Biography:

Paul J. Battaglia's mother, Elaine Leinung, likes to say that her son was "born at age 40."

Even as a preschooler, Mr. Battaglia, who was actually 22, had a knack for numbers. How else to explain a 4-year-old tallying the correct amount of change due even before the cashier at the grocery could? It happened a lot, Ms. Leinung said, and by age 10, he was balancing checkbooks.

"I would have such difficulty with it and complain," Ms. Leinung said. "It all started with his Commodore 64 computer when he was 9. He found his niche: numbers."

By his senior year at Regis High School in Manhattan, Mr. Battaglia had earned an internship with Marsh & McLennan. After he graduated from the State University of New York at Binghamton, his internship turned into a position as a risk consultant. He was so proud of his job on the 100th floor of Tower 1 that he posted pictures of his office and his view of the Brooklyn Bridge (his home borough) on his Web site, Battaglia.org. One snapshot was mostly gray. "Cloudy day!" he wrote underneath.

911 Call on September 11, 2001