Susquehanna University recognized the 20th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in New York, Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania with a service that remembered two university alumni who died in the attacks that day – both in the World Trade Center.
“There are many lessons to be learned from that tragic day. We were all reminded how truly connected we were. It felt as though everyone knew a victim, a first responder, or at least had a loved one who experienced peripheral trauma,” said University President Jonathan Green. “Susquehanna lost two beloved and promising young alumni.”
Colleen Supinski ’96 was on the 104th floor of the South Tower, where she was an associate trader for Sandler O’Neill & Partners, and Chris Vialonga ’93 was on the 92nd floor of the North Tower, where he worked as a foreign exchange trader for Carr Futures. Supinski was one of 66 Sandler O’Neill employees who died that day, and Vialonga was one of 69 Carr Futures employees to perish.
Supinski was on the women’s track and cross-country teams and was a member of the Kappa Delta sorority. Vialonga was a standout offensive lineman on the football team and a significant contributor to the 1991 South Region Championship squad’s run to the national Division III semifinals. He was also a member of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity.
“For me, the lasting lesson was what we did in the days immediately following September 11. We pulled together. Civility and grace were our watchwords, and kindness was abundant. Today, our nation and world are plagued by fractiousness and rancor,” Green said. “As we remember those whom we lost 20 years ago, we can best honor them by committing to regain those halcyon moments that arose in the wake of their loss.”
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