09/01/2026
By Julie Chen

The UMass Lowell community will gather at 10 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 10, for the university’s 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony at the 9/11 memorial sculpture “Unity,” behind Leitch Hall.

The ceremony will honor the lives lost on Sept. 11, 2001, and remember members of the UMass Lowell community and their families whose lives were forever changed by the tragedy. The ceremony will include remarks from members of the university and Lowell communities.

Event details

  • When: Thursday, Sept. 10, at 10 a.m.
  • Where: UMass Lowell 9/11 Memorial Sculpture “Unity”
  • Location: Behind Leitch Hall, 111 Pawtucket St., Lowell

Among those remembered on the memorial are:

  • Douglas A. Gowell, ’71, of Methuen
  • Robert J. Hayes, ’86, of Amesbury
  • Brian K. Kinney, ’95, of Lowell
  • John Ogonowski, ’72, of Dracut
  • Patrick Quigley IV, at the time the husband of Patricia Quigley, ’86, of Wellesley
  • Jessica Leigh Sachs, former student and daughter of alumni Stephen R. and Karen D. Sachs, both ’69, of Billerica
  • Christopher Zarba, ’79, of Hopkinton

The university community will also remember retired New York State Police Trooper Ryan Fortini, ’98, who died Jan. 1, 2020, from illnesses stemming from his search and recovery efforts at the World Trade Center site.

“Unity” was designed as a meditative, inviting and comforting place. Its center includes Karl Foerster grass, symbolizing the cycle of life and rebirth. A dozen segments of its round slate top represent the 12 months of the year. One segment rises slightly higher than the others and is inscribed “Sept. 11, 2001,” so that we may never forget.

The idea for the memorial came from former student Andre Gorgenyi while he was a member of the Student Government Association. It was designed and constructed in 2004 by alumnae art students Gail Miller, Rebekah Hermans and Janet Wittlinger.

As part of the remembrance, flags will be lowered to half-staff. Wreaths will be placed at the UMass Lowell 9/11 memorial and at the Kinney Memorial at the corner of Pawtucket and Fletcher streets.

The university community is encouraged to use campus transportation. Public parking will be available in the East Campus Garage, 47 Pawtucket St.