Brooklyn, New York
Telling Sketches of Strangers
As the A train gently rocked her, Carrie Progen would sit with a small pad in her lap and sketch hurried portraits of the commuters sitting and standing around her in silence. These fleeting moments were among life's truest, she told her boyfriend, Erik P. Sharkey, "the moments when New Yorkers were thinking the most."
In all, she filled four notebooks with sketches that seemed to reveal the thoughts of strangers. But they also reflected a young artist's passion for her adopted city, Mr. Sharkey said. "The one thing, if you could, is to say how much she loved New York."
Ms. Progen, 25, came from Ashburnham, Mass., where she celebrated her high school graduation by getting a Celtic-style tattoo. "The correct terminology for Carrie is free- spirited," recalled her mother, Kathleen.
Ms. Progen, who lived with Mr. Sharkey in Fort Greene, Brooklyn, was an administrative assistant at the Aon Corporation. But her passion was her art, including illustrations she had just completed for a children's book about "two parents trying to find their little girl who's hiding from them," he said.
An exhibit of her artwork ‹ including her subway sketches ‹ is to be held at 8 p.m. on Nov. 17 in Manhattan at Anderson's Martial Arts Academy, 35 West 31st Street.
I miss you so much... my best friend. I keep your art with me always - your sculpture is in my office by a picture of you. I see you every day. You never got to meet my son, but he knows all about you. Your courage, brilliance, artistry, silliness, and your good heart. I treasure the time we shared always. See you again one day. <3 I love you CBP - NEVER FORGET.
Jacqueline Richard
January 16, 2026
so sorry for your loss... RIP
Alex L.
January 15, 2026
RIP!!
Alan Towle
September 12, 2024 | Other
Was just telling friends the other day about how much fun we had when Carrie & I would dish about the other students we had just sparred with at Jeet Kune Do (martial arts) class. So long ago, and also not.
Steve M
September 11, 2024 | Other
Not forgotten
Steve Mendes
September 11, 2021 | Wellesley, MA | Classmate
I think of you every time on 9/11 to you and your family
Barbara LeBlanc
September 11, 2021
I watched the special today, Women of 9/11, and thought of you. We never met. Our Progen family is quite large and I moved from Ashburnham to Florida in the early 60's due to my father's health. My father was your grandfather's younger brother; therefore your Dad and I are cousins. You are my son's age, born in the same year. I always think about your Dad and family during this time. I say a prayer hoping they remember a good time and their pain is lessened. You never get over losing a...
Judy Progen Skuya
September 10, 2021
I did not know you but one Administrative Assistance to another, I sent flowers for your family from Cambridge in Cranbury NJ, a subsidiary of AON. I remember you every year Carrie and pray for your peace and famiiy's comfort.
Ann Lamanna
September 11, 2020 | Hightstown, NJ
In memory
With Honor & Respect.
S. J. Friscia III
January 05, 2020 | Staten Island, NY
