Connecticut's 9/11 Living Memorial
New Jersey Living Memorial, A Grove of Remembrance
Empty Sky: NJ State 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
Christopher Wodenshek had five children and was "rarely seen without one or two of them in his arms," according to a family member. To shorten his commute to work at the World Trade Center so he could spend more time with his children, Mr. Wodenshek moved his family a month ago from Stamford, Conn., to Ridgewood, the town in which he grew up. "He was a lover of life, with a wonderful sense of humor, dedicated and committed to his family, friends and work," said the relative. "He was the type of person who always had a smile on his face, an encouraging word and a helpful hand." Mr. Wodenshek, 35, was at work on the 105th floor of the World Trade Center's North Tower when an airliner hijacked by terrorists slammed into the building Sept. 11. He was a director for Houston- based Tradespark, supervising a staff of 36 in brokerage operations for electricity. He had been with the firm for 21/2 years. He earlier was employed by a financial services firm in Stamford. "My memory of him is that he was extremely loyal and ethically impeccable, as well as the hardest and most aggressive worker I have ever known," said Rick Beaman, general manager of Tradespark. "Also, there was not a mean bone in his body. He will be very much missed." Mr. Wodenshek was described as an avid runner, proud of having completed the New York City marathon in 1996. He was the son of Florence Wodenshek of Lodi and the late Raymond Garreth Wodenshek. He leaves his wife, Anne; three daughters, Sarah, Haley and Mollie; two sons, William and Zachary; a brother, Raymond of Teaneck, and four sisters, Linda Remenschneider of Lodi, Florence "Mickie" Garrett of Wood-Ridge, Patricia Wodenshek of West Paterson and Mariellen DeLellis of Raleigh, N.C. A funeral Mass will be offered at 2 p.m. Saturday at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, 1 Passaic St., Ridgewood. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Christopher Wodenshek Children's Trust, c/o attorney Thomas Palace, 20 Court St., Hackensack, N.J. 07601. Profile by William Gordon published in THE STAR-LEDGER.
I started to write this and…
I started to write this and stopped thinking after 25 years, was this a selfish inclination to contribute to a tragedy that I was not directly impacted by-- some overwhelming need to share a remote experience? but then I realized that 25 years from now, there will be fewer of us to remember those people who were gone too soon. So yes, selfishly, I am sharing what I remember of a boy I knew a very long time ago because he was memorable. Chris was a classmate of mine at Assumption. I have vague memories of him up until about 7th grade. A time when you start to notice boys and vice versa. I was his best friend's girlfriend. He was my best friend's boyfriend. During a very tender time, I remember a very funny, sweet boy. Always a sheepish yet devilish smile. We grew up and went different ways but thru the grapevine I heard one of our group, his dear friend Mark, passed away and Chris had continued to be there for him. It did not surprise me to hear that. It was his nature. I came to hear of Chris being lost on 9/11 only by chance when I happened to see an interview shortly after the tragedy and his wife Anne and another widow were interviewed regarding the situation with CF and benefits to the victims' families. It stopped me in my tracks when I saw her name. I thought, my God, how could that be true and my immediate next thought was how proud he would have been of her voice during such a time of sorrow. I simply felt like today was a day to share some simple, fading fast memories of a sweet kid I had the pleasure of knowing for a moment long ago. God bless Chris. Never forget.
Posted by Sheila (Curtin) Sullivan
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