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Thomas Strada Obituary
What made Terry Strada fall fast in love with her husband, Thomas, when they met 20 years ago? "Oh my God, he was the most fun person I ever knew," Mrs. Strada said. "He would take me out, and the sky was the limit. Limos, dinners. I said I liked the Boston Celtics; he flew me to Boston to see them."
Three months after Mr. Strada's death, his wife is still inundated with calls from people eager to reminisce about thrills they experienced, courtesy of Thomas Strada.
"If they went fishing with him, it was the best fishing trip they ever had," Mrs. Strada said. "If they went to the track with him and he won money, he'd share it and make everyone a winner for the night."
Mr. Strada, 41, a bond broker at Cantor Fitzgerald, also ensured that his son, Thomas, 7, and daughter, Kaitlyn, 4, experienced as much exhilaration as they could handle. The family visited Disney World three times since Tommy was born. Just 10 days before his death, Mr. Strada helped the boy catch his first bass.
There is one family member, however, who has missed out on the joy of life with Mr. Strada. He is Justin Thomas, Mr. Strada's third child. He was just four days old on Sept. 11.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Adrienne Wright-Truex
August 2, 2024
I and we will never forget you and your family. All of you, may you be well, now and forever.
Ralph Vitagliano (Frenchie)
July 15, 2024
I was blessed with working with Thomas Strada. I had great partners including Tommy Cahill. At the morning of 9/11 I had called Tommy Cahill. Within minutes later the plane crashed into 2 WTC. I never forget my relationship with all yhe employees at Cantor
GOD BLESS THEM FOREVER
Judy Schur
September 11, 2023
On this 22nd Anniversary I want you and your family to know you have NOT been forgotten. You and everyone other person we lost that day will never be forgotten. RIP and prayers to Terry and the kids on this sad day. Hugs from Nanaimo BC CANADA.
April King
September 28, 2016
I dont know your family but I know Mr. Strada is a wonderful man. I send my condolences and sympathies. I wish i could take the pain away of all of you. But I stand with you and I will never forget
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Jackie Chow
August 21, 2016
I visited the 9/11 Memorial in Manhattan for the first time last week. I took pictures of some of the names so I could look them up later, and Thomas was one of them. I just want to say that even though I live far away in Iowa, that day was very meaningful to me and I care about the people who died and all of the friends and families they left behind. We will never forget them. I'm very sorry for your loss.
Linda Ciarletta Hathaway
September 11, 2014
I was one of Thomas' teachers at St Dominic HS. I was so saddened when I heard of your loss. I think of him often and remember our trip to NYC with his class. That always reminds me of his wonderful zeal for life, even at that young age, and his sense of humor and amazing smile. Please know that your family is always in my prayers.
Alyson and Barry Smith
October 27, 2013
I know you would have had something very special planned for Terry's birthday today. You were always giving to others and sharing your awesome personality and loving ways. Happy birthday, Terry! Tom, we think of you fondly often.
Kerry McKenna Chmielowiec
September 12, 2013
Thinking of you this week Tommy and praying for your family.
Richard Estrada
April 21, 2013
I just returned to Orange County, CA after visiting NYC and the 9-1-1 Memorial; I felt myself drawn to a certain area to view the pool...as I leaned forward, deep in thought, I looked downward to say a silent prayer and I saw your name...my last name is Estrada, no relation but a very spiritual connection at that moment...bless you and your family.
JOHN SHOLTY
September 11, 2012
THINKING OF YOU AND YOUR FAMILY AND PRAYING THAT YOU ARE ALL HAPPY AND WELL.
WITH HEARTFELT LOVE.
kaitlyn strada
August 25, 2012
thinking of you everyday....
your little girl... forever and always
Mark Ferguson
September 20, 2011
Like Deborah I watched the programme "Children of 9/11" and would like to add my condolences to Mrs Strada and her 2 childrent who all came across with dignity and spoke with love of their father.
Condolences and R.I.P
Deborah Strada
September 12, 2011
I watched 'Children of 9/11' last night, from my flat in South West London, England. I was touched by all the stories told, but I felt some closeness to the Strada family: I share the same name and fishing is one of my dad's hobbies. Superficial details, one of those life's odd coincidences... I know I'm a stranger and I cannot offer any consolation to your family, but you have my prayers.
Kerry Chmielowiec
September 11, 2011
Tommy was a childhood friend of my brother John. I recently viewed the program Children of 9/11 and got a glimpse into Tommy's adult life. I was saddened for his wife and children, but then filled with peace and joy when I saw young Justin as the spitting image of his father. Looking and acting so much like him. Even his teeth, the way he flipped his hair, his jerky movements, his contagious smile, his desire to make everyone laugh. I felt like I was back in time, fond memories.You must be very proud. My heartfelt prayers go out to you Terry and your three beautiful children. God bless you. Kerry McKenna Chmielowiec
Mary Strada
September 7, 2011
forever missed, forever loved!
Kaitlyn Strada
May 11, 2011
DADDDDDDDDDDYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!! bin ladins gone!!!!1 you can finally rest in paradise! i love you soo muchhh!!! miss you and look down at my new horseyy! hes a blondie and i knew you always loved them! i love and miss you and i hope heaven is great!
Barry & Alyson Smith
May 5, 2011
When we heard the news about bin Laden, my wife and I were elated. We then said a silent prayer for our friend Tommy. We miss you!
Cherie
May 2, 2011
Today we find bittersweet justice for Tommy. Our prayers are for peace and comfort to his family and parents and friends. This morning Mayor Strada described well the sea of tears produced over the last 10 years, and America has not forgotten. God will turn our mourning into joy. Be strong in Him, our refuge and strength. He is our Rock, and strong Deliverer.
Jennifer Iannotti
April 5, 2011
Love you and miss you so much. Hoping that you and the others will all have justice soon!
Jennifer Iannotti
September 11, 2009
Love and miss you..
Doug Abraham
July 1, 2009
Happy Birthday!!!
Jennifer Iannotti
September 11, 2008
Loving and missing you always.....
Kristine
August 4, 2008
As I cross-stitched your name on the memorial that I am doing for all of the victims, I prayed for you and your family. Please know that your death was not in vain. We will always remember. God Bless.
Doug Abraham
July 1, 2008
Happy Birthday!!!
Jennifer Iannotti
September 11, 2007
Six years- and it still feels as if it were yesterday...love and miss you forever Tommy...your sister Jenna
Thomas (Gunboats) Hilinski
April 20, 2007
Dear Family and spouse,
I was working for security Pacific as a mail clerk and frequented KMS and loved tommy , thomas cahill etc... I played basketball with tommy with all the brokers rooting. He was a person bigger than life and I pray for his entire family. Heaven was lucky to get tommy, the shea brothers and tommy cahill. God Bless you. I also pray that we will be together one sweet day.
P Tabbernor
March 24, 2007
In memory....
Barbara Tucker
September 15, 2006
Dear Terry and family,
You don't know me, but I'm Joseph Strada's(Ernie's first cousin) granddaughter. We are very sorry for your loss.Our thoughts and prayers are with you always. We all hope your memories bring you comfort.
~Barbara and Family
Jerry Brooks
September 11, 2006
Dear Terry and family,
We have never met, but i am your mother's first cousin. I lost contact with her many years ago, and just heard about your loss. My deepest sympathy to you, and although i never met Thomas, i know, from the tributes, that he was a fine man. May God bless you and yours.
Mary Strada Tabrum
September 11, 2006
Five years gone, and still so much pain. Son, brother, husband, father, cousin, FRIEND. Each time I see a picture of your smiling face, I remember to laugh, cry and most of all live. May we all live each day to the fullest. Jen, Mike, Joe and Sue, Ernie, Maryann, Terry, Thomas, Kaitlyn and Justin...love, thoughts and prayers to you every single day.
Jennifer Iannotti
September 5, 2004
There is nothing I could write about my brother to do him the justice he deserves or give you any clue as to how wonderful a person he was. There are no words to express the loss and grief my family feel every day. All I can say is... Tommy, I love and miss you tremendously and you will NEVER be forgotten! Your sister, Jenna
Kay Murphy-Ruscetta
September 24, 2003
Tommy was one of the "young turks" working for my husband at KMS, "Murph", Kevin.....Tommy was a great guy, fast to laugh and I remember his kindness when Murph died. I am saddened by his loss and send my sympathies to family.....God bless and keep you till we all meet again.
Harold Bauer
September 11, 2003
I was a classmate of Toms at St. Dominics. I am deeply sorry for your loss
Peter Fritz
September 11, 2003
My thoughts and prayers are with Tommy and his family on this sacred day of remembrance. I worked with Tommy at KMS in the 80's.
a friend
April 10, 2003
Strats..missing you on masters weekend...go sluman...peace bro
carol phelan mcgrath
October 1, 2002
Out of all the people we lost on that horrific day, none has affected me more than losing Tommy.We had not spoken in a few years as our lives took different paths.We met working at KMS in the 80's. Just thinking about that time in my life brings a smile to my face & Strada (as we all called him) was a big reason for the happy memories. He was my good friend & referred to me as BoomBoom.He was so happy when he got together with Terry.I will always keep Tommy & Terry in my prayers.I hope someday to meet his children & tell them what an impact their dad had in my life. God Bless the entire Strada family.
a friend
September 19, 2002
I became friendly with Strada through mutual friends in business. We enjoyed several rounds of golf, many beers, and even more laughs. Although I didnt see him much over the last couple of years, I will always remember him as a good man..Although I didnt have a daughter named Kaitlin then, I do now, and cant imagine how hard it would be to be apart from her. My prayers are with Kaitlin, and the entire Strada family. God bless you, and all our other friends that were so brutally taken from us.
Joyce & Gene Osborne
September 15, 2002
This week we planted a tree to honor your Tommy's life,here in the town of Oley Pa. His life was too short, but my how full it must have been. What wonderful memories you have to share with your children and to remember when life was bursting all around you. God bless you all.
samantha shor
September 11, 2002
terry,today as every day since i heard the news about tom i think of you thomas,kaitlin and justin. and everyday i look at the picture on my wall of us when we were in the winner circle on september 5,1994 tommy was just a little baby and a few short weeks later we were all in kentucky together having agreat dinner and lots of fun, i will never forget tom he was a great person and i am thankful that i knew him and enjoyed the times we had. i hope that you are all doing as well as you possibly can be doing. i think of you often.
love,
sam
Amanda Hughes
September 11, 2002
Dear Strada family:
Your children are wonderful and I will never forget coming over to babysit them with Brittany Roffina. I think about you often and you are in my prayers constantly. You are good people and I look forward to seeing you again.
God Bless You-love Amanda Hughes
Lila Valdez
September 10, 2002
There was a basket of names placed outside our church on Sunday. Everyone was to pick one and pray for that person and his or her family. I picked Thomas Strada. He has been in my thoughts and prayers ever since. Although I have experienced the loss of loved ones, I can't say I understand. I can only pray that the Lord continue showing Thomas the beauty and joy of heaven. I hope that his family and friends find some comfort in knowing that he is an ANGEL of GOD now. May his light shine on forevor. God bless you during this trying time.....once again.
The Valdez Family
Wylie, Texas
Richard Mollitor
September 10, 2002
Although I did not know Tommy personally, I knew his younger brother. I grew up in Westbury and any long-time resident of Westbury naturally knows who the Strada's are. I am deeply saddened by your loss, and my prayers, as well as the prayers and thoughts of all the Mollitor family from Westbury, are with you and your family forever.
May God Bless You!
Ed Kubacki
September 8, 2002
Terry, we haven't met and it's over 20 years since I saw Thomas. He and I grew up across the street from each other in Westbury. I am depply sorry for your loss. I remmember Thomas when we were kids and after reading about him as an adult I feel I have missed knowing someone special.
God bless you and your children.
kathy cahill-psirogianes
August 12, 2002
My brother and Tom Strada are in Heaven together.. this I know.. My brother Tom Cahill had a deep respect for Tommy and for Terry and their beautiful children who I've had the priveledge of meeting recently. Our Tommy and your Tommy are watching over us even though they do belong here with us, that is true.. But it helps us to know they are together... Terry your strength and courage is amazing and having heard so much about you and finally having met you recently I can only say I respect you as much as my brother did.. You are always in my thoughts and our families thoughts as well.. They are together that much I know and believe...... Much Love Always Kathy Tommy Cahills' sister
Marsha Thomas
August 2, 2002
Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with you.
Kerry
July 3, 2002
I am Tom Cahill's sister. Tom Strada and my brother were very close friends. I have met "Strada" (as my family calls him) on a few occassions, but know much more about him through all of the funny stories my brother told us. I know that my brother respected Stada, for his business sense but also for being a "family-man" About a week before Sept 11th my brother went fishing with Strada and his son, Thomas. We had a conversation that day about his friends and what kind of people they were. I asked him if Strada was a good dad...He looked at me with that "yeah right" look that he had and answered emphatically.."He's a great father." I could tell how much he admired him.. I know that the rest of my family shares fond memories of Strada. Every day when I look out onto the lake I think about Strada and my brother fishing and having a great time, as they always did when they were togehter. It brings me some peace to know that they are together in Heaven. May God Bless the Srada family...you are constantly in my thoughts and prayers.
Angie Campbell
May 16, 2002
May God Bless you and watch over the ones that you left behind on 9/11/01. May you rest in peace forever more.
May 9, 2002
DEAR GOD SHINE YOUR LIGHT ON THIS WONDERFUL MAN..THOMAS S.STRADA AND MAY HIS SOUL REST IN PEACE WITH GOD AND HIS ANGELS..GOD BLESS HIS LOVING FAMILY AND MANY FRIENDS..GOD BLESS AMERICA AND NEW YORK..MAY JESUS AND ST.THOMAS GREET YOU AT THE GATES OF HEAVEN...AMEN
Christine Stine
March 20, 2002
Dear Mrs. Strada,
You don't know me but I feel that I needed to let you know that a few weeks ago I purchased a Mercy band and specified that I wanted to receive someone's name from the WTC. I just received my Mercy band today in the mail and I received the name of your husband Thomas S. Strada on it. I immediately went to this site to find out some information out about him and was very touched and moved about the kind of person he was. I am very honored to "Bear his name daily" and will pray for you and your family every night. If you would like to have his Mercy band I would be honored to give it to you. However just know that I wear it now and will continue to every day. God bless you and your family. Christine
Bill Holmes
January 14, 2002
Dear Terry and Family,
Please know that you, Tommy, Kaitlyn and Justin have been in our thoughts and prayers. Last week, when it snowed, my son, Ian, asked me if I remembered the great time Tommy, Ed B. and I had sledding with our kids. I told him that it would be something that I never forget.
Janice Meinke Dunbar
January 13, 2002
I feel fortunate that my life was touched by Tommy. I attended your wedding so many years ago. Although we have not been in touch in years, the memories remain vivid. What a fun, caring guy whose spirit made everyone smile. Your loss is tremendous; my prayers are with you. God Bless.
Anne Reinsford
December 30, 2001
My deepest sympathies are with you. I knew Tommy, as a friend, when I worked downtown. My name was Anne Buckley then--mid 80's. Tommy was so much fun to be with and always a real sweetie; sort of like a brother in how he treated me.
I was thinking about him recently and checked the CNN site and sadly saw his name.
We were all better for knowing him. I wish his wife and family my best. I will say a prayer for you all. God Bless
Jim Beardsley
December 14, 2001
An old friend from Westbury, one of my fondest memories of Tom was when we were both working at the Meadow Brook Club in Jericho. Tom was in the Pro Shop and I was painting the clubhouse. Every once in a while, when the place went quiet, we'd hit the links at dusk and play until it was too dark to find your ball. The first to lose his ball in the darkness lost the last hole. It was usually me 'cause the son of a gun was always in the fairway.
Although we've never met, we share good memories of a good guy. I'll bet there's a lot of us out there.
Teresa Jahn
December 11, 2001
We are so sorry for your loss of Thomas. We know his spirit for enjoying life to the fullest will live on in Thomas, Kaityln, and Justin. Our hearts cry with you.
America Cries
We see your sorrow-
and our hearts cry....
We can not erase your pain
but you do not have to face the anguish alone-for we-
-the American people-
are beside you.
We so desperately want to have the touch that brings you comfort,
the strength that gives you courage,
and the words to lighten your spirits.
And when we are left speechless
may the silence of our nation weave love into your hearts
to ease your sorrow.
May you find healing through our nation's strength as we-
-the American people-
face this difficult time together. Our hearts are with you. Teresa Jahn
Dixon, IL
Daniel Gallagher
November 29, 2001
We played golf together in high school. You were a fun guy to be with on the links. Your enthusiasm and energy was contagious. Although we didn't keep in touch, I was truly shocked and saddened to hear that you had passed on 9/11. I hope you're crushing some golf balls wherever you are.
Sharon Walsh Hunt
November 28, 2001
Dear Strada Family, I remember Tommy as a fellow high school student at St. Dominic's in Oyster Bay. His laugh was contagious and he always wore a smile. Please know that you are in my thoughts and prayers. God Bless!
Kristin Murphy
October 11, 2001
I had met a relative of Tommy's the other night at the Wantagh Inn. His name was Paul. A retired P.O. or a Detective and we later exchanged names of the ones that were lost in this tragedy from our families. We both said we were in each other's prayers, and having to lose my brother, James F. Murphy IV, it's been very hard. I was glad to meet somebody else that is also going through this. It's good to vent it out to people that are experiencing the same exact feelings as you are. My sister, told me about this website, and after seeing my brother's guestbook, I immediately looked up the name that Paul, had given me. I want to tell you all that, all your families are in my thoughts & prayers, and I wish I could do something for you, but unfortunately there isn't anything, but prayers! So, Paul, here's to you & your family, if Tommy was anything like (I believe Paul is Tommy's uncle?)you, Tommy was truly blessed! God Bless and don't ever let the memories fade of your Tommy!
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