Trinity Remembers Alumni Lost in 9/11

Daniel J. Nesbitt ’22

Co-Editor-in-Chief

This past Saturday Trinity held a special ceremony in the chapel to commemorate the lives lost in the 9/11 terrorist attacks–which included six Trinity alumni. The ceremony featured an organ meditation by organist Christopher Houlihan ’09, prayers and reflection by Chaplain Marcus Halley, and remarks and a reading of the necrology from President of the College Joanne Berger-Sweeney. Additionally, members of the Student Government Association (SGA) read and discussed the Dalai Lama’s “Reflection on September 11.”  

The six Trinity alumni who perished in the attacks were John C. Hartz ’59, Lindsay C. Herkness III ’65, George E. Spencer III ’73, Richard B. Hall ’74, Stuart Todd Meltzer ’90, and Scott Michael Johnson ’97. 

John C. Hartz ’59 

Hartz was an English major from Bernardsville, New Jersey. While at Trinity, he was a member of both the Tennis team and St. Anthony Hall. At the time of the attacks, Hartz, at 64 years old, was working on the 94th floor of the South Tower as the senior vice president at Fiduciary Trust International. 

Lindsay C. Herkness III ’65 

Herkness was a Government major from New York City. While at Trinity, he took part in a number of student organizations including Crown Investment League, Economics Club, and Young Republicans. Herkness was also a member of Psi Upsilon. At the time of the attacks, Herkness was a senior vice president at Morgan Stanley working near the 70th floor of the South Tower. 

George E. Spencer III ’73 

Spencer was a Psychology major from Shaker Heights, Ohio. While at Trinity, he played on the soccer team and was a member of Alpha Delta Phi. At the time of the attacks, Spencer was on the 84th floor of the South Tower working for Euro Brokers in the Credit Derivatives Division. 

Richard B. Hall ’74 

Hall was an Economics major from Pleasantville, New York. While at Trinity, he played for the football team his freshman year, switching to the baseball team from his sophomore year onwards. In addition, Hall wrote for the Tripod his senior year. During the attacks, Hall was working in the South Tower as a senior vice president at the Aon Corporation.

Stuart Todd Meltzer ’90 

Meltzer studied History at Trinity, hailing from Newton, Massachusetts. He had played baseball at the University of Michigan before graduating from Trinity. Meltzer worked for Cantor Fitzgerald, a bond-trading firm, and had been been promoted to head of West Coast Power Management before the attacks. Meltzer, who was working in the North Tower, passed away at 32 years old.

Scott Michael Johnson ’97 

Johnson was a History major with a minor in Jewish Studies, hailing from Montclair, New Jersey. He was working as an analyst for Keefe, Bruyette & Woods in the South Tower at the time of the attacks. Johnson’s remains were identified in 2018–nearly 17 years after the attacks. He was the 1,642nd victim to be identified.