Glen Rock, New Jersey
Romance and the Towers
Grace Alegre and Ildefons Cua found romance at the south tower. Fresh out of graduate school from the University of Massachusetts, Ms. Alegre applied for a job as an accountant at Metropolitan Bank and Trust on the 17th floor, where Mr. Cua was the accounting manager, in 1986.
"She didn't get the job, but she found a husband," Mr. Cua said. They married shortly after the interview and she became Mrs. Alegre-Cua. They have two children, Nicole, 13, and Patrick, 9.
Mrs. Alegre-Cua did not have any trouble finding employment elsewhere. Two weeks after the interview, she was hired at Chuo Mitsui Trust & Banking Company, where she worked for 14 years, most recently at 2 World Trade Center.
The only reason she did not get the job at Metropolitan was that the position had just been filled recently and Mr. Cua had conducted the interview as a favor to the general manager, he said.
"She was very smart," he said, "but I couldn't hire her. I don't know if we were in love right away, but I was interested because of her beauty and sweetness."
Hello Miss Grace Cua
Greetings from San Diego, was reminiscing about this terrible tragedy and saw your name on a flyer from that day. You are still remembered here today, preserving your memory with the love from your family and strangers across time and space.
May you forever rest in the light of Heaven.
Adri Parra
June 18, 2025 | San Diego, CA
I never met Grace but I was on a trip in New York and something about her name upon a memorial drew me in; so I decided to research her and honor her memory. She seemed to be the type of person that you would want to surround yourself with.
Anamarie Ownbey
May 19, 2024 | Chattanooga, TN
I met Grace a handful of times but I felt like I knew her. I worked with husband Ed at American Express back in the late 90s and there was not a day where he did not mention his beautiful wife Grace. Ed was one of the kindest men I’ve ever had the opportunity to meet. He would tell lovely little anecdotes about Grace and his two children. Right after 911 I searching the flyers for faces that I might recognize when I suddenly saw graces smile and then feeling my heart literally sank to the...
Suzanne Darley
September 11, 2021 | New York, NY | Coworker
God bless you Grace. For us you will live forever.
John Yarbrough
September 11, 2021 | New York, NY
Remembering Grace on the 20th anniversary of 9/11....
Cindy Roe
August 31, 2021 | Galesburg, MI
Rest in Peace Grace, God bless your family and friends.
Louise Scalzo
April 18, 2017 | Niagara Falls, NY
I am so sorry for your lost. It is very difficult to lose a one. but their is real hope for the future. Please read Roman 16:4.
October 03, 2015
To the family and friends of Grace Alegre-Cua:
Grace will be held in the hearts of Americans forever. I cannot and will not allow those we lost on 9/11 be forgotten. My deepest sympathy to you.
Peggy Childers
September 11, 2014 | Carson City, NV
Karen Lynch
September 11, 2013 | Scotland