Christoffer Carstanjen
From September 11 Memories
Christoffer "Chris" Carstanjen (1967 - 2001) died at age 33 in the crash of United Airlines Flight 175 during the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. He was born in Stamford, Connecticut and attended Housatonic Valley Regional High School, Paul Smith's College and the University Without Walls at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. He was a computer research specialist for the Office of Information Technologies (OIT) at the University of Massachusetts Amherst since November 2000. He was a resident of Turners Falls, Massachusetts. Carstanjen had previously been employed at the Northfield Mount Hermon School from 1996 to 2000. Since starting work at UMass he had been OIT's liaison to the UMass College of Humanities and Fine Arts, providing support and consultation to the College's departments in all aspects of OIT services. He was a great guy, an avid dancer (morris and contra) and loved motorcycling. To friends he was known as "Captain Tupperware" in reference to his red fully-faired Honda Pacific Coast 800 which proudly bore a "Body by Tupperware" decal. Chris was on his way for vacation to California for the annual Great Pacific Coast Motorcycle Ride when he was lost on Flight 175.
Tributes
UMass Chancellor Marcellette G. Williams:
- The confirmation that Christoffer was aboard the flight that struck the second tower adds the piercing pain of familiarity to the profound sadness that his UMass family members are experiencing. We extend our arms and our hearts to Christoffer's family in the hope of providing some solace to their pain. Christoffer's sense of the human dimension of technology is one of the many enduring gifts he has given us. To him and to his family we say, 'Thank You.' His life has made ours the richer.
Randy Sailer, director of telecommunications for OIT:
- Christoffer was extremely outgoing and friendly, and very popular within OIT. He worked well with both faculty and students and was a great ambassador for the University.
Alice Taylor, Rock Creek Morris Wom:en:
- Five years on, we remember the joy we shared with Chris and with dancer Steve Adams, also lost, when we danced, sang, and drank at the Marlboro Morris Ale. 9-11-06
