Philip W. Mastrandrea Jr.

Philip Mastrandrea, 42, a gentle giant Philip W. Mastrandrea was a strong man -- "a big bear of a guy" -- but his greatest strength lay in his gentle nature. He had broad shoulders that anyone could lean on, nimble fingers that could skillfully braid his little girls' hair.

"Philip was wonderful," said a relative who spoke on behalf of Mr. Mastrandrea's wife, Karen.

"He was an incredible husband, a wonderful father, the son that everybody wishes for."

Mr. Mastrandrea, 42, of Chatham, worked on the 104th floor of One World Trade Center as a partner for Cantor Fitzgerald. The night before the attack was no different than any other, the relative said. He tucked his daughters -- Paige, 8, and Sydney, 5 -- into bed and kissed his wife. They would have been married for 15 years this October.

Mr. Mastrandrea was born in Brooklyn and attended Pace University in Long Island, N.Y. He had been a partner with Cantor Fitzgerald for the past 10 years, since about the time he and his wife moved to Chatham.

While he was successful in his professional life, he really judged his success by intangible things like the love and commitment he had for his family, his family said.

He was always ready with a joke and loved the beach. Among his hobbies were collecting watches and cars. They said Mr. Mastrandrea was very dependable and could be counted on at any hour of the day.

In addition to his wife and daughters, Mr. Mastrandrea is survived by his parents, Philip W. and Roz of Florham Park; and siblings, Robert and Lynn, both of Florham Park.

A memorial service will be held Friday from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the atrium at Corpus Christ Church in Chatham Township. A memorial Mass will follow.

The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Philip W. Mastrandrea Scholarship Fund for World Trade Center Survivors, 7 Midwood Drive, Florham Park, N.J. 07932.