Employee of Cantor Fitzgerald killed in the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001∼In Honor of Joann Smith Tabeek
September 11., 2001
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Joann Tabeek's cheery voice still plays on the answering machine at her home. Her fiance, Vincent Milotta, said he won't erase it until the house is sold.
Ms. Tabeek, 41, a vice president and partner at Cantor Fitzgerald, on the 103rd floor, was on the phone with Mr. Milotta when the first plant hit Tower 1. "Oh, God, a plane went through the building," she said. "That's it. I'm not going to work in New York City anymore."
Ms. Tabeek survived the 1993 terrorist bombing of the Trade Center's sub-basement.
Described by her sister, Maureen Pickering, as a consummate "working girl," Ms. Tabeek began her career at Cantor Fitzgerald as an assistant more than 20 years ago. She became a vice president and partner in 1991.
"The Trade Center was part of who she was," said Mrs. Pickering. "She was a businesswoman's businesswoman."
Born Joann Smith in Stapleton, Ms. Tabeek graduated from Curtis High School, and moved to New Dorp when she was 18. She settled in Dongan Hills about five years later.
A world traveler, she had visited England, China and Japan, but relished the slot machines in Atlantic City. Three times a year, she would join a dozen family members and friends on a trek to the casinos there.
Ms. Tabeek and Mr. Milotta had just returned from a Caribbean cruise earlier this month and took their children to Canada last year. She had also visited DisneyWorld with her daughter, Krystal, 11, several times.
She had planned to retire to Palm Beach, Fla., in three years with Mr. Milotta and their children.
The couple met at a family communion three years ago and became engaged on Christmas 1999. They were planning a City Hall wedding this Christmas.
"She was the happiest I'd ever seen her in a long while," said Mrs. Pickering. Ms. Tabeek loved dance music, and was a fan of the radio station WKTU.
She was a parishioner of Our Lady Queen of Peace R.C. Church, New Dorp, and loved the atmosphere in the parish's mission church, Our Lady of Lourdes R.C. Chapel, New Dorp Beach, where she attended mass regularly.
Most of Ms. Tabeek's leisure time was spent with her family.
She often went on "girls' day out" shopping sprees with her daughter, sister and two nieces, Theresa and Jacqueline. She also loved playing with her 2-year-old grandniece, Taylor MacLeod, at family gatherings.
Christmas Eve was a particularly important day, when she would join her entire extended family to celebrate. The Staten Island St. Patrick's Parade was another gathering point. Every year, Ms. Tabeek would proudly adorn herself in green and watch the parade march down Forest Avenue with family members. An Irish feast would follow at the home of her mother, Eleanor Neville.
"She was my best friend," said Mrs. Neville, a breast cancer survivor. "I lived with her after my mastectomy, and she took care of me. She was always worrying about me. I couldn't have asked for a better daughter."
Mr. Milotta was proud of Ms. Tabeek and her career, even setting aside relationship stereotypes. "I really loved her," he said. "She wasn't a very good cook, but I am. We laughed together about her putting on a few pounds since she met me."
She had quit smoking only three weeks ago.
"I kept telling her if she wanted to see Krystal grow up, she should stop. But I never thought . . ." he trailed off.
Ms. Tabeek's body was identified yesterday, something her family said they were thankful for, given the number of people still missing in the disaster. "I was waiting for the closure, but I wasn't as relieved as I thought I would be, because now it's final," said Mrs. Pickering. "She was a very giving person, and if anybody ever needed anything, she was the first one to help."
In addition to her sister, Maureen,; her mother, Eleanor, her daughter, Krystal, and her fiance, Vincent, surviving are three brothers, William Jr., Michael and James Smith, and another sister, Patricia Heyne.
Ms. Tabeek's 3-year-old son, James, died of meningitis in 1988. Her father, William J. Smith, died in 1984.
The funeral will be Saturday from the Hanley Funeral Home, New Dorp, with a mass at 10 a.m. in Our Lady of Lourdes Chapel. Burial will be in Moravian Cemetery, New Dorp.
SI Advance
UPDATE: In 2015 Joann's sister Maureen had passed away, please visit Maureen's page: Maureen Smith Pickering
September 11., 2001
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Joann Tabeek's cheery voice still plays on the answering machine at her home. Her fiance, Vincent Milotta, said he won't erase it until the house is sold.
Ms. Tabeek, 41, a vice president and partner at Cantor Fitzgerald, on the 103rd floor, was on the phone with Mr. Milotta when the first plant hit Tower 1. "Oh, God, a plane went through the building," she said. "That's it. I'm not going to work in New York City anymore."
Ms. Tabeek survived the 1993 terrorist bombing of the Trade Center's sub-basement.
Described by her sister, Maureen Pickering, as a consummate "working girl," Ms. Tabeek began her career at Cantor Fitzgerald as an assistant more than 20 years ago. She became a vice president and partner in 1991.
"The Trade Center was part of who she was," said Mrs. Pickering. "She was a businesswoman's businesswoman."
Born Joann Smith in Stapleton, Ms. Tabeek graduated from Curtis High School, and moved to New Dorp when she was 18. She settled in Dongan Hills about five years later.
A world traveler, she had visited England, China and Japan, but relished the slot machines in Atlantic City. Three times a year, she would join a dozen family members and friends on a trek to the casinos there.
Ms. Tabeek and Mr. Milotta had just returned from a Caribbean cruise earlier this month and took their children to Canada last year. She had also visited DisneyWorld with her daughter, Krystal, 11, several times.
She had planned to retire to Palm Beach, Fla., in three years with Mr. Milotta and their children.
The couple met at a family communion three years ago and became engaged on Christmas 1999. They were planning a City Hall wedding this Christmas.
"She was the happiest I'd ever seen her in a long while," said Mrs. Pickering. Ms. Tabeek loved dance music, and was a fan of the radio station WKTU.
She was a parishioner of Our Lady Queen of Peace R.C. Church, New Dorp, and loved the atmosphere in the parish's mission church, Our Lady of Lourdes R.C. Chapel, New Dorp Beach, where she attended mass regularly.
Most of Ms. Tabeek's leisure time was spent with her family.
She often went on "girls' day out" shopping sprees with her daughter, sister and two nieces, Theresa and Jacqueline. She also loved playing with her 2-year-old grandniece, Taylor MacLeod, at family gatherings.
Christmas Eve was a particularly important day, when she would join her entire extended family to celebrate. The Staten Island St. Patrick's Parade was another gathering point. Every year, Ms. Tabeek would proudly adorn herself in green and watch the parade march down Forest Avenue with family members. An Irish feast would follow at the home of her mother, Eleanor Neville.
"She was my best friend," said Mrs. Neville, a breast cancer survivor. "I lived with her after my mastectomy, and she took care of me. She was always worrying about me. I couldn't have asked for a better daughter."
Mr. Milotta was proud of Ms. Tabeek and her career, even setting aside relationship stereotypes. "I really loved her," he said. "She wasn't a very good cook, but I am. We laughed together about her putting on a few pounds since she met me."
She had quit smoking only three weeks ago.
"I kept telling her if she wanted to see Krystal grow up, she should stop. But I never thought . . ." he trailed off.
Ms. Tabeek's body was identified yesterday, something her family said they were thankful for, given the number of people still missing in the disaster. "I was waiting for the closure, but I wasn't as relieved as I thought I would be, because now it's final," said Mrs. Pickering. "She was a very giving person, and if anybody ever needed anything, she was the first one to help."
In addition to her sister, Maureen,; her mother, Eleanor, her daughter, Krystal, and her fiance, Vincent, surviving are three brothers, William Jr., Michael and James Smith, and another sister, Patricia Heyne.
Ms. Tabeek's 3-year-old son, James, died of meningitis in 1988. Her father, William J. Smith, died in 1984.
The funeral will be Saturday from the Hanley Funeral Home, New Dorp, with a mass at 10 a.m. in Our Lady of Lourdes Chapel. Burial will be in Moravian Cemetery, New Dorp.
SI Advance
UPDATE: In 2015 Joann's sister Maureen had passed away, please visit Maureen's page: Maureen Smith Pickering
Employee of Cantor Fitzgerald killed in the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001∼In Honor of Joann Smith Tabeek
September 11., 2001
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Joann Tabeek's cheery voice still plays on the answering machine at her home. Her fiance, Vincent Milotta, said he won't erase it until the house is sold.
Ms. Tabeek, 41, a vice president and partner at Cantor Fitzgerald, on the 103rd floor, was on the phone with Mr. Milotta when the first plant hit Tower 1. "Oh, God, a plane went through the building," she said. "That's it. I'm not going to work in New York City anymore."
Ms. Tabeek survived the 1993 terrorist bombing of the Trade Center's sub-basement.
Described by her sister, Maureen Pickering, as a consummate "working girl," Ms. Tabeek began her career at Cantor Fitzgerald as an assistant more than 20 years ago. She became a vice president and partner in 1991.
"The Trade Center was part of who she was," said Mrs. Pickering. "She was a businesswoman's businesswoman."
Born Joann Smith in Stapleton, Ms. Tabeek graduated from Curtis High School, and moved to New Dorp when she was 18. She settled in Dongan Hills about five years later.
A world traveler, she had visited England, China and Japan, but relished the slot machines in Atlantic City. Three times a year, she would join a dozen family members and friends on a trek to the casinos there.
Ms. Tabeek and Mr. Milotta had just returned from a Caribbean cruise earlier this month and took their children to Canada last year. She had also visited DisneyWorld with her daughter, Krystal, 11, several times.
She had planned to retire to Palm Beach, Fla., in three years with Mr. Milotta and their children.
The couple met at a family communion three years ago and became engaged on Christmas 1999. They were planning a City Hall wedding this Christmas.
"She was the happiest I'd ever seen her in a long while," said Mrs. Pickering. Ms. Tabeek loved dance music, and was a fan of the radio station WKTU.
She was a parishioner of Our Lady Queen of Peace R.C. Church, New Dorp, and loved the atmosphere in the parish's mission church, Our Lady of Lourdes R.C. Chapel, New Dorp Beach, where she attended mass regularly.
Most of Ms. Tabeek's leisure time was spent with her family.
She often went on "girls' day out" shopping sprees with her daughter, sister and two nieces, Theresa and Jacqueline. She also loved playing with her 2-year-old grandniece, Taylor MacLeod, at family gatherings.
Christmas Eve was a particularly important day, when she would join her entire extended family to celebrate. The Staten Island St. Patrick's Parade was another gathering point. Every year, Ms. Tabeek would proudly adorn herself in green and watch the parade march down Forest Avenue with family members. An Irish feast would follow at the home of her mother, Eleanor Neville.
"She was my best friend," said Mrs. Neville, a breast cancer survivor. "I lived with her after my mastectomy, and she took care of me. She was always worrying about me. I couldn't have asked for a better daughter."
Mr. Milotta was proud of Ms. Tabeek and her career, even setting aside relationship stereotypes. "I really loved her," he said. "She wasn't a very good cook, but I am. We laughed together about her putting on a few pounds since she met me."
She had quit smoking only three weeks ago.
"I kept telling her if she wanted to see Krystal grow up, she should stop. But I never thought . . ." he trailed off.
Ms. Tabeek's body was identified yesterday, something her family said they were thankful for, given the number of people still missing in the disaster. "I was waiting for the closure, but I wasn't as relieved as I thought I would be, because now it's final," said Mrs. Pickering. "She was a very giving person, and if anybody ever needed anything, she was the first one to help."
In addition to her sister, Maureen,; her mother, Eleanor, her daughter, Krystal, and her fiance, Vincent, surviving are three brothers, William Jr., Michael and James Smith, and another sister, Patricia Heyne.
Ms. Tabeek's 3-year-old son, James, died of meningitis in 1988. Her father, William J. Smith, died in 1984.
The funeral will be Saturday from the Hanley Funeral Home, New Dorp, with a mass at 10 a.m. in Our Lady of Lourdes Chapel. Burial will be in Moravian Cemetery, New Dorp.
SI Advance
UPDATE: In 2015 Joann's sister Maureen had passed away, please visit Maureen's page: Maureen Smith Pickering
September 11., 2001
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Joann Tabeek's cheery voice still plays on the answering machine at her home. Her fiance, Vincent Milotta, said he won't erase it until the house is sold.
Ms. Tabeek, 41, a vice president and partner at Cantor Fitzgerald, on the 103rd floor, was on the phone with Mr. Milotta when the first plant hit Tower 1. "Oh, God, a plane went through the building," she said. "That's it. I'm not going to work in New York City anymore."
Ms. Tabeek survived the 1993 terrorist bombing of the Trade Center's sub-basement.
Described by her sister, Maureen Pickering, as a consummate "working girl," Ms. Tabeek began her career at Cantor Fitzgerald as an assistant more than 20 years ago. She became a vice president and partner in 1991.
"The Trade Center was part of who she was," said Mrs. Pickering. "She was a businesswoman's businesswoman."
Born Joann Smith in Stapleton, Ms. Tabeek graduated from Curtis High School, and moved to New Dorp when she was 18. She settled in Dongan Hills about five years later.
A world traveler, she had visited England, China and Japan, but relished the slot machines in Atlantic City. Three times a year, she would join a dozen family members and friends on a trek to the casinos there.
Ms. Tabeek and Mr. Milotta had just returned from a Caribbean cruise earlier this month and took their children to Canada last year. She had also visited DisneyWorld with her daughter, Krystal, 11, several times.
She had planned to retire to Palm Beach, Fla., in three years with Mr. Milotta and their children.
The couple met at a family communion three years ago and became engaged on Christmas 1999. They were planning a City Hall wedding this Christmas.
"She was the happiest I'd ever seen her in a long while," said Mrs. Pickering. Ms. Tabeek loved dance music, and was a fan of the radio station WKTU.
She was a parishioner of Our Lady Queen of Peace R.C. Church, New Dorp, and loved the atmosphere in the parish's mission church, Our Lady of Lourdes R.C. Chapel, New Dorp Beach, where she attended mass regularly.
Most of Ms. Tabeek's leisure time was spent with her family.
She often went on "girls' day out" shopping sprees with her daughter, sister and two nieces, Theresa and Jacqueline. She also loved playing with her 2-year-old grandniece, Taylor MacLeod, at family gatherings.
Christmas Eve was a particularly important day, when she would join her entire extended family to celebrate. The Staten Island St. Patrick's Parade was another gathering point. Every year, Ms. Tabeek would proudly adorn herself in green and watch the parade march down Forest Avenue with family members. An Irish feast would follow at the home of her mother, Eleanor Neville.
"She was my best friend," said Mrs. Neville, a breast cancer survivor. "I lived with her after my mastectomy, and she took care of me. She was always worrying about me. I couldn't have asked for a better daughter."
Mr. Milotta was proud of Ms. Tabeek and her career, even setting aside relationship stereotypes. "I really loved her," he said. "She wasn't a very good cook, but I am. We laughed together about her putting on a few pounds since she met me."
She had quit smoking only three weeks ago.
"I kept telling her if she wanted to see Krystal grow up, she should stop. But I never thought . . ." he trailed off.
Ms. Tabeek's body was identified yesterday, something her family said they were thankful for, given the number of people still missing in the disaster. "I was waiting for the closure, but I wasn't as relieved as I thought I would be, because now it's final," said Mrs. Pickering. "She was a very giving person, and if anybody ever needed anything, she was the first one to help."
In addition to her sister, Maureen,; her mother, Eleanor, her daughter, Krystal, and her fiance, Vincent, surviving are three brothers, William Jr., Michael and James Smith, and another sister, Patricia Heyne.
Ms. Tabeek's 3-year-old son, James, died of meningitis in 1988. Her father, William J. Smith, died in 1984.
The funeral will be Saturday from the Hanley Funeral Home, New Dorp, with a mass at 10 a.m. in Our Lady of Lourdes Chapel. Burial will be in Moravian Cemetery, New Dorp.
SI Advance
UPDATE: In 2015 Joann's sister Maureen had passed away, please visit Maureen's page: Maureen Smith Pickering
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