No Average Joe
Mark Shulman was a "kind of quiet guy who loved sports," said his wife, Lori, suggesting the personality profile of an average Joe. But there was more.
He was, undeniably, a sports fan, attending Giants and Rangers games as often as possible, or taking them in on television at home in Old Bridge, N.J. But overriding all was a dedication to his daughters, Jamie, 13, and Melissa, 17, in whom he instilled a zest for accomplishment.
Mr. Shulman was the coach of Jamie's soccer team, the Old Bridge Road Runners, spending weekends traveling to games across central New Jersey. He had been looking forward to Jamie's bat mitzvah, which was celebrated on Nov. 17, a day Mrs. Shulman recalls as "bittersweet."
He was also working closely with Melissa, a high school senior, on college applications. His advice was "go for the best," Mrs. Shulman said, adding that "he would have been so proud" when news came this month of Melissa's early admission to Princeton.
A 47-year-old mechanical engineer, Mr. Shulman worked as a fire protection specialist for Marsh & McClennan on the 100th floor of the World Trade Center.
"He did evacuation plans for clients," Mr. Shulman said. "If anybody knew how to get out, he would have been the one."
Profile published in THE NEW YORK TIMES on December 24, 2001.
Mark Shulman, 47, loved by all he knew
By day, Mark Shulman was a disaster inspector, fire prevention and risk consultant for Marsh & McLennan in New York. His nights and weekends were spent with his family.
He organized a baseball team for the Knights of Pythias in Old Bridge. He coached the Roadrunners girls soccer team there.
For the past 12 years, he took his wife Lori and daughters Melissa, 17, and Jamie, 12, to Disney World in Florida.
"He loved his family; he loved Disney World," said his mother, Evelyn Shulman of Toms River.
On Tuesday, he was memorialized at a service at Temple Shaari Emeth in Manalapan. Mr. Shulman, 47, has not been seen since the World Trade Center was destroyed by terrorists Sept. 11. He worked on the 100th floor of Tower One.
"He was in the building when it was hit," his mother said.
Though Mr. Shulman loved his job, it wasn't his first priority, Evelyn Shulman said.
"His family always came first," said his mother. "He did everything for his family. I lost a treasure."
Shulman said her son loved everybody, a trait that was noticed by others.
"There were 800 people at the memorial service, and they gave him a tribute I will never forget. Everybody loved him," she said.
Mr. Shulman received an engineering degree from Pratt Institute in New York and worked uptown before being transferred to the World Trade Center 17 years ago.
Born and raised in Brooklyn, Mr. Shulman and his wife moved to Old Bridge 17 years ago.
Besides his wife and daughters, Mr. Shulman is survived by his parents Ira and Evelyn Shulman of Toms River; a brother, Larry of Port Jefferson, N.Y.; and nieces, nephews and other relatives.
