Walter Baran
Remembering Walter Baran on this 10th Anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terror attacks.
In remembrance of the victims of September 11, 2001, project 2,996 was started. This website is dedicated to the memory of those who lost their lives on that day 5 years ago. I am honored to have been selected to remember WALTER BARAN.
As soon as I was assigned Walter, I began researching his life. I learned many things about Walter Baran. I found out we had many similarities in our lives. I wish I would have met Walter in person.
Walter Baran was born on November 28, 1958. Walter was married to Carol and has two beautiful daughters named Stephanie and Samantha. Stephanie was 15 and Samantha 12, on September 11, 2001.
Walter worked as an investment banker for Fiduciary Trust. He was also a vice-president in the firm. His office was on the 90th floor of Tower 2.
From what I have read about Walter, I can definitely say he loved life, and especially his family. His two daughters were the world to him and he often coached their teams. He had an interest in sports. His favorite hockey team was the New York Rangers. Even though I live in Pennsylvania, I have always been a Ranger fan.
I would have loved to watch the 1993 Stanley Cup Finals with Walter.
Walter had a profound sense of fairness and what was right.
"There's one story that really sticks out for me. Many years ago Wally went to a baseball game and one of the ball players refused to sign autographs. A man who was with them asked the ball player, "You know what your problem is? You forgot what it's like to be a kid."
That was written by a friend of Walter's, Terence Farley.
Walter agreed with that man at the game. He loved to have fun with Samantha and Stephanie. Walter would do something special at Easter when the girls were young.
His friend Paul Ranieri recalled that Walter "would go around the house with three fingers in some powder and make rabbit paw prints on the floor, so his daughters knew that the Easter Bunny had been there."
His daughters were his essence.
Walter also had a love for cigars.
"Wally enjoyed his family, his friends and his cigars. It is because of Wally that I have a passion for cigars and read your magazine each issue. Wally is a cigar smoker from the old days (he is only 42, but I always tease him about being 10 years my elder). He tells me about when he used to smoke cigars right at his desk. I was introduced to cigars by smoking Hoyo de Monterrey Excaliburs (Wally's favorite). We like to sit around, laugh, tell stories, talk sports and smoke cigars. I always make fun of Wally because he smokes his cigar to the very end, and I often wonder how he doesn't burn his fingers. I hope to see Wally soon, but as the days go by it seems less and less likely that I will ever get to talk, laugh or smoke a cigar again with my buddy. I hope to live every day to its fullest now, and smoke every cigar to the end, because I never know when it will be my last. Thanks, Wally, for being a friend, a mentor, and introducing me to things like smoking cigars and enjoying life".
Paul K. Ranieri
New York, New York
As a cigar aficionado myself, I would have loved to enjoy a smoke with Walter.
Walter also collected coins. He, of course, shared his collection with others.
Walter Baran was also a member of St Joseph's where he would help out every year with the annual feast and bazaar. He would enjoy a cigar and a beer while talking and dealing cards. This was part of his family life, the life which was most important to him.
A cousin of Walter, Jennifer Bajcic wrote this:
"There are so many memories that Walter has been a part of. Like an endless number of Christmas Eves, when I was at the kid table and somehow Ali and me both always seemed to find a little bit of Brandy Alexander after Walter had walked though the room (our mothers of course, never saw). That was Walter. He just always wanted to make sure everyone around him was smiling and well taken care of. I'll always remember him then - yelling out for a "broccoli sangwich" with Rob or filling up my wine glass when I wasn't looking. Just laughing. Those are my best memories of my cousin. He was truly a good man that I feel so lucky to have had in my life, and more importantly, in my family."
Walter's sense of combining fun and family was apparently evident on Saturday mornings too. He and the girls would make new recipes to try out. Family and fun.
As I read about Walter Baran and his life, I was impressed with his sense of dedication to right and wrong. His deep love for Carol, Stephanie and Samantha was his guiding principle in his short life. He was a complete man. He was "one of the good ones".
Throughout many websites there are messages left for Walter and his family. The sentiments are the same. Walter was a righteous, fun-loving family man. He was always willing to help people. Walter is what we all want in a friend, spouse, and father.
He daughter Samantha wrote this on January 25, 2004.
Walter Baran was not only my father, he was my hero. He was a great guy. He was always a gentleman where ever he was. He loved hockey, it was his true passion. He would love to go to the Ranger games, he would always take my sister and I. He used to coach my basketball team, no matter how busy he was he always made time for what was truly important to him. He loved the holiday Thanksgiving and claimed it was the forgotten holiday. The day after Thanksgiving we would put up our tree, it was a tradition. He would always take an afternoon at work and put his little christmas tree up at work. He touched many peoples lives and will always be remembered as "one of the good ones". I love you dad!
From his early days at Curtis High School, as a resident of Staten Island, a VP at FTCI, and a family man, Walter Baran was a man of honor, love and integrity. He may be physically gone but his life continues to touch those who knew him. I now know some things about Walter and his life has touched me.
This project was fate. I was randomly assigned Walter's name. Doing the research I found out that we had the same interests. The NY Rangers, cigars, collecting coins, coaching our children's sports teams, and a sense of fun and family. It was almost spooky to read about these things and I kept thinking that I was given Walter Baran's name for a reason. I think I have discovered the reason Walter is the person I am remembering. Walter is telling me to dedicate my life to the same things he did, to try and be one of the "good ones".
I have never met Carol, Stephanie or Samantha. Maybe one day I will have that privilege. But this I do know, their father Walter Baran will always be in my thoughts. Every time I watch the Rangers, or have a cigar, or share coins with my two daughters and son, Walter will be there. When I look at the Memorial quilt poster dedicated to Walter, he will be there with me.
There is a Walter Baran Way in the borough of Staten Island. I will drive on that road someday soon. I will think of the Baran family and wonder if the girls have their own family and how proud their father would be. I am proud to have been selected to remember Walter Baran on this day.
Almost 5 years ago, Carol and the girls wrote a message to Walter that was published in the Staten Island Advance.
Walter Baran
Tuesday, 11/12/2002
Walt, it's a year, so I guess I have to say goodbye. I've known from the beginning in my head that you weren't coming home, but my heart couldn't accept that.
Life is so different and lonely without you. We miss you so much. We live with our memories now, thank God we always made things special so we have a lot of wonderful family memories.
Be at peace, my love, and always be our Special Star watching over us.
Love and Miss You Forever,
Carol, Stephanie and Samantha
I am honored to be part of this project. To Carol, Stephanie and Samantha, you will always be in our thoughts and prayers. Thank you for sharing your husband and father with us. We hope his love warms your heart on cold evenings.
Walter touched many lives. I would like to learn more about Walter from his friends and people who remember him. Please leave comments. The comments must be confirmed by me first so there will be a delay of a day or so till they can be posted.
UPDATE on September 9, 2011.
I hope that Carol, Stephanie and Samantha are doing well. Walter is remembered at our home also. This weekend's cigar will be dedicated to Walter and the other fine people who died on September 11, 2001.
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