New York, New York
Prankster and Big Brother
Richard M. Caggiano used to call his grandmother, pretending to be a pizza deliverer, or a surveyor, or a telephone solicitor. And she fell for the prank over and over and over again.
"He loved to play tricks on his grandmother," said his mother, Veronica Caggiano.
"'Is that you, Richard? Is that you again?'" she would say after a while. He would change his voice so it was always hard for her to tell. He had a great sense of humor."
Mr. Caggiano, 25, a native of Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, was a stock options trader at Cantor Fitzgerald, his first big job, where he had worked for about nine months before the attack.
"He was very excited because this was going to be the beginning of his career," his mother said.
"He was learning the business. It was his all-time goal to work in the financial sector."
Mr. Caggiano was proud of his blue-collar roots. He lived at home in Flatbush with his mother; his father, Albert, a city worker; and a younger brother, Michael, 23.
The two brothers were close. They learned from one another. The older brother taught the younger how to throw a baseball, how to present himself to the world, how to be patient and calm.
Mr. Caggiano got to watch his younger brother grow into a man, the result of his generous advice, said Michael Caggiano, who wished that his brother could have been here for his 23rd birthday on Aug. 25.
I never met you Richard but I wait to hear your name mentioned every year on 9/11. You are my cousin my parents are gone but I have many memories of family dinners at your Grandma &Grandpa's home in Brooklyn. Aunt Christine cooked every Sundays for us. My parents are Eleanor & Eddie Ghirardi. I pray you are resting in peace and pray your family are well. RIP and I will never forget that day.
Catherine Ghirardi Picchiarello
September 11, 2024 | Family
Yanks - Mets later on tonight. Mets look like they are for real.. almost nobody left to talk baseball to anymore. Thankfully little Danny is a baseball nut, too. Time moves, it waits for no one. We love and miss you... Life could have been so much different.. RIP Always... Love you..
Uncle Danny
July 26, 2022
My hearts been heavy these past days... so easy to revisit those emotions. Time has not made it easierAlways still thinking about you I pray for your family as well..always. U were too good to be taken from us. U and ur boys r probably hanging out, crackin jokes and not aging like the rest of us. Lol.❤
Tracy McFadden
September 13, 2021 | Port Jefferson
Dear Ritchie, Thinking of you and sending you and your family love and prayers of comfort. Rest In Peace.
Camille Divona Packer
September 11, 2021 | Family
Remembering Richard on the 20th anniversary of 9/11...
Cindy Roe
September 03, 2021 | Galesburg, MI
I never knew Richard personally but I feel like I came to know him well through his mother, father and brother. I have never met a more loving and strong family. It was an honor and privilege to come to know them. Meeting them impacted my life to this day. I think of Richard and them every single year on this sad and solemn anniversary. I think of you today and always.
Marianne Murray
September 11, 2020 | New York, NY | Acquaintance
Grief can be so hard, but our special memories help us cope. Remembering you today and always. Love you Rich
Daniel Anicito
September 11, 2020 | Family
Tomorrow marks another year. Haven’t wrote on here in many years. Think about u often still... So many anniversaries of that horrible day have come and gone, so many things have happened...LIFE. So sad for u, ur family that urs was cut short. Still feels like it was so recent when i get caught up and start thinking about it all. And ever year brings back just as much sadness. The world is crazy right now. But tomorrow it will stand still for a little bit, like every Sept 11 since 2001 to...
Tracy
September 10, 2020 | Friend
Love ya ....
Uncle Danny
August 23, 2020 | Family
