Note: I will be keeping this post at the top of my blog for the rest of this week in memory of Christopher and all the innocent victims of 9/11. New posts can be found below.
I have written a few tributes on this blog -- birthday tributes, Father's Day tributes, thank yous to friends, and an in memoriam to my sister. Now, I find myself trying to write a tribute to one of the
2,996 people who were lost 11 September 2001. It isn't easy to write about someone you don't know. As I did my research for this post though, I found myself wishing I had known Christopher Newton-Carter.
Bright, witty, generous, charming, talented and kind are just a few of the words which were used to describe Christopher Newton-Carter. He was born 16 December 1949 in the United Kingdom. He was the elder son of Andre and Linda Newton-Carter. He attended Beaumont College and then transferred to Stonyhurst College.
Those who knew him in the UK consider him to be a prince of a man who was a true reflection of his parents. He played rugby for one season in the Hendon Rugby Club. Christopher was great fun and had a marvelous sense of humour. In 1986 he emigrated to the United States from the United Kingdom. In 2001, he was living in Middletown, New Jersey.
He was the Associate Director of Information Technology at Sandler O'Neill & Partners which was located on the 104th floor of Two World Trade Center.
He enjoyed working in IT -- according to one of his friends, he was one of the first people she knew of to set up a network of computers in his home before it was popular. "He was good at his work but modest in his opinion of his talents."
Christopher Newton-Carter had also worked at Family Media. Coworkers there said he always had a cheerful word and would always help you solve a problem. He was an easy going guy and was easy to get along with. He was a wonderful teacher and mentor and was a true inspiration. He was bright, witty, talented and kind. One coworker remembered of him telling about going to the shrine at Lourdes and helping carry disabled people so they could be blessed.
Christopher had gone to Scotland for the first time just weeks before his death. Mark Newton-Carter remembers that the weather was glorious and the mood was one of peaceful joy. Christopher had loved the visit and wanted to come to Scotland more often.
Mark Newton-Carter said his brother was his best friend. Before Christopher went to America, the two hadn't needed anyone else. They were "best mates." Mark said, "Chris was the most reliable, solid guy you could know. There was never a problem he couldn't solve. Although he reached the pinnacle of success, he was unspoilt by it. Chris was just an ordinary guy." Mark had looked up to his brother who had been his guide and protector.
After Christopher came to America, the brothers kept in touch by E-mail or phone. In fact, the morning of 11 September, Christopher called Mark after the first plane crashed into the north tower. Christopher had wanted his younger brother to tell their mother that he was all right.
Christopher Newton-Carter was survived by his mother, his brother, his sister Teresa, and his wife Susan. The Newton-Carters had been married nine years and would still hold hands if they sat next to each other on the sofa. Susan Newton-Carter had a commemorative stone laid near a small park in the neighborhood where they lived. The whole neighborhood was at the memorial service.
Requiescat in pace, Christopher Newton-Carter.
May God support us all the day long,
till the shadows lengthen,
and the evening comes,
and the busy world is hushed,
and the fever of life is over,
and our work is done.
Then in God's mercy
may God give you safe lodging,
and holy rest and peace.
Amen.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Resources:
September 11 Victims
The Guardian
Wikipedia
9-11 Heroes
Observer Guardian
The Independent
For tributes for the rest of the 2,996, go here.
I would like to invite anyone who knew Christopher Newton-Carter to leave a comment here sharing a memory with all of us.
