In Memory Of Timothy Stout

Mr. Timothy Stout, 42, was a Boston native who worked as a quality assurance analyst for Cantor Fitzgerald, the bond firm, with an office on the 103rd floor of the World Trade Center’s South Tower.

Timothy C. Stout and his wife, Maryellen, had recently moved into a new home in the Hudson River town of Dobbs Ferry, N.Y., with their three children -— Timothy Jr., 6, Matthew, 5, and Shannon, 4.




Mr. Stout seems to have been a devoted family man according to this account:

One day one of my kids said, `Can you play me like a banjo, Mom?' " Maryellen Stout said.

"I had no idea; then I realized my husband would pick him up and play him like a banjo. He's a big kid, 70 pounds, and I said, `Sorry, Matt, I can't do that.' These are the kinds of things he would do with them."

Timothy C. Stout, 42, did the family's laundry, made fabulous garlicky corn on the grill, popped popcorn with the kids and grilled pork chops with a secret coating. It has been hard for Mrs. Stout to try to take over any of those activities.

A few months after Mr. Stout, a quality assurance specialist at Cantor Fitzgerald, died at the World Trade Center, his children — Timothy Jr., Matthew, and Shannon, — made a list of the 10 Best Things About Daddy:

1. He grilled well.
2. Hugs.
3. Funny.
4. Birthday party and cake.
5. He loved us.
6. Kisses.
7. "Thank you and good night!" (His favorite phrase to encourage the children to go to sleep already, Mrs. Stout explained.)
8. Snuggling.
9. Surprises — movies, treats, adventures.
10. We love Daddy.

"That's pretty much who he was," Mrs. Stout said. "He was Daddy. He had this job because it was a safe job, and he could be home for dinner every night."


Mr. Stout had been an avid member of the crew team at the University of New Hampshire. In honor of his memory his former crewmates bought a boat and named it after him.


Please note, this post doesn't reflect any endorsement of Mr. Stout with the politics of Shining City Atop a Hill. I don't know his politics but it doesn't matter if he was a Republican, Democrat, or a Capitalist or a Communist. It doesn't matter if Mr. Stout was Catholic or Protestant...Jewish or Muslim. What matters is that Mr. Stout lost his life in the tragic events of September 11th.

During this 5th Anniversary of of the terrorist attacks, I will take some time to remember Mr. Stout. Even though I have never met him or his young family, I hope that both have found peace.


For a week this post will stay on top of the blog. Updates will be seen below.