By Laura Lane
Patricia DeAngelis lost her husband, New York City firefighter Thomas DeAngelis, a battalion chief, on Sept. 11. He was one of the first to respond when planes hit the World Trade Center, a fact that surprised no one who knew him.
Maureen Dominguez's husband, 34-year-old Carlos, the chief of firewall security at Marsh & McLennan, died as well. He was trapped in his office on the 95th floor in tower one. Maureen watched helplessly as the caller ID on her telephone continued to announce her husband's cell-phone number, a call that would not go through as he tried fruitlessly to reach her to say goodbye.
Both women have spent the past 18 months trying to adjust to their new lives and the role of single parent. Their commitment has remained the same: to help their children by providing the best home life possible. DeAngelis has a daughter, Nicole, who continues to attend Clarke High School. Dominguez is raising three children, 2-year-old Michelle, 6-year-old Amanda and Maria, now 10.
DeAngelis and Dominguez said they found a degree of solace in Mohammed's capture. They have faith that the other al Qaeda terrorists will also be found. "It made me feel better when I heard he was caught, but there are more of them out there that need to be caught," Dominguez said. "The kids know Mohammed was caught, and even my 2-year-old niece recognized him as the 'bad man.'"
"The government hadn't been making things public, and I used to think they weren't doing anything, but I made a choice to put my faith and support in the government," DeAngelis said. "I think that in catching Mohammed, we have our proof that the concentration is there."
The women say they do not watch the news much, though they are aware of the looming war with Iraq. They do not see America's involvement in this war as a diversion from the hunt for Osama bin Laden or any of the other terrorists. Instead, they believe the issues connect.
"I see the war with Iraq as related, and I think we have to split the focus with catching bin Laden," Dominguez said. "We are in limbo in both areas, which makes things uneasy. The increased security and alerts are upsetting, and discussions of terrorism make me relive Sept. 11. I don't want to see that happen to anyone else."
At press time, President Bush had given Saddam Hussein and his sons 48 hours to leave Iraq before they would face a military invasion.
"The connection is there," DeAngelis said. "We just aren't aware of what is going on. War is a sad thing, but at the same time, we need to stand up. I just worry other people will go through the horrible pain and sadness we did."
Dominguez and DeAngelis said Mohammed's arrest did not make them relive Sept. 11. A year and a half later, however, they still sometimes find day-to-day living to be difficult. "I just completed the refinishing of the basement, which was supposed to be a family project with Carlos," Dominguez said. "When I stood at the top of the stairs and looked at it, I broke down."
"There isn't a day that goes by that Nicole and I don't remember Tommy," DeAngelis said. "He is a part of us. We'll only get so far. He'll always forever be there for us."
Both women are committed to moving on with their lives and agreed that community support has helped them get through rough times. DeAngelis said she and daughter Nicole have formed a closer relationship. If she has a bad day, she said she thinks back on the help she received from the East Meadow community and realizes "it is a good world."
Dominguez appreciates the community's respect for her privacy. She was quick to mention her appreciation of cards sent by a Girl Scout troop and the fact that Marsh & McLennan continue to keep in touch.
The East Meadow widows want to see Mohammed punished. Dominguez supports the death penalty. DeAngelis is equally committed to retribution, but struggled to find a way to express how she thought the terrorist should be punished. "I can't think of how to say what I believe they should do with Mohammed in a nice way," she said. "I don't believe that we all pray to the same God or that these people can really be human to have thought out that horrible tragedy. I don't think there is anything too harsh for them."
