Stacey S. McGowan

Known by Her Embrace
Stacey S. McGowan was known for her hugs ‹ just part of a comfortable feeling she engendered that a friend chose to call "Staciness."

"Hers was a hug that would essentially render every other hug you'll ever receive in your life a complete insult to hugging," said the friend, Patrick Corry, in a eulogy.

Tom McGowan, her husband, elaborated from their home in Basking Ridge, N.J.: "She made those around her feel better about themselves and the life they're in, just through the enjoyment of them, you know?"

Stacey Sennas McGowan, 38, a managing director for Sandler O'Neill Partners, was president of her class each year at Nyack High School and played for its varsity lacrosse team and later, for Boston College.

It was at college that Tom McGowan, now an executive in foreign exchange marketing for Reuters, first saw her and fell in love. They were married nearly 10 years ago and had two daughters, Ryan, 5, and Casey, 4. "She had no pretensions and she loved life every day," he said. "She was just warm and giving and happy and funny, proud, strong and graceful. I never met a saint, but this girl certainly was a saint."