Ivan Perez

Using Weekends for Fun
If you ask people what Ivan Perez was like, the first thing they say is how he loved being with his children, Darleen 12, and Ivan Jr., 11. Mr. Perez did not live with them and their mother, but every Saturday he would show up at their apartment in Brooklyn, and Darleen and Ivan would literally knock him over in excitement. Then the fun began. Usually, there was lunch, a movie, roller skating. The three made a lively group. There were arguments because Darleen loved the Yankees, and the two Ivans were Mets fans. Mr. Perez, 37, was a hugger, too.

Last December, Mr. Perez got engaged to Eileen Flecha, a co-worker at Fiduciary Trust International, and everyone remarked how nice she was with the children. On Sept. 11, Mr. Perez was on the 97th floor of 2 World Trade Center in operations, and Ms. Flecha, a trader, was on the 94th. Mr. Perez's family speculates that after the first plane hit, he delayed leaving so he could get Ms. Flecha. Now they are both missing.

On Saturdays now, Mr. Perez's brother, Edgard, goes to see the children. "I try to keep their minds busy," he said.