Davis G. "Deeg" Sezna Jr.

An Enthusiastic Trainee
Davis G. Sezna Jr. – known to his family and friends as Deeg – was in New York for boot camp, his basic training in the world of finance. A freshly minted graduate of Vanderbilt University, Mr. Sezna was ecstatic about his job at Sandler O'Neill & Partners on the 104th floor of 2 World Trade Center. He showed up for work early, insisted on wearing business suits in an office where business casual was the attire du jour, and refused to call his boss by his first name.

Sept. 11 was Mr. Sezna's sixth day on the job, but already Jimmy Dunne, a managing principal at Sandler O'Neill, knew that he would succeed. "He was high energy, a hard worker," Mr. Dunne said. "He knew he was fortunate to have a job, and he was going to make this shot work."

Twice a day, Mr. Sezna, 22, and his father, Davis G. Sezna Sr., spoke about their lives and their game plan ‹ the crux of which consisted of the younger Mr. Sezna's leaving the West Village and coming home to Delaware to run the family's hospitality business, which owns golfing clubs and restaurants. "He was a very, very intelligent guy who had a bulldog's tenacity when he believed in something," Mr. Sezna said.