Hall of Fame, Scholarship

November 20, 2001

Charles Margiotta '79, an off-duty New York City firefighter who perished while trying to rescue workers at the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, demonstrated clearly that his life was one of 'usefulness and reputation.'

Fallen firefighter honored in Hall of Fame, scholarship

by Mary Jo Curtis

Chuck Margiotta '79 should've been safe at home when disaster hit the World Trade Center on Sept. 11.

But after finishing a 24-hour shift, the New York City firefighter spotted the burning towers as he drove home to Staten Island that morning. And he did what came naturally to him: He headed to the nearest fire company, joined its crew and headed to the scene to assist in the rescue effort. When the towers collapsed a short time later, he and 10 other members of that 12-man crew were trapped and lost.

"Lt. Charles Margiotta fulfilled the Charter of Brown University to the utmost degree... for no Brown man has ever demonstrated more clearly that his life was one of'usefulness and reputation'," said Director of Admissions Michael Goldberger, who recruited Margiotta for Brown.

Now Margiotta's example will be kept alive in perpetuity, thanks to the generosity of a Brown trustee who has given the University $1.4 million to establish a scholarship fund to honor the fallen firefighter. Brown Trustee and parent Martin Granoff and his wife, Perry, have endowed the Lt. Charles Margiotta Memorial Scholarship Fund to memorialize him and provide scholarship aid to the descendants of any firefighter, police officer or rescue worker killed in the attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon.

Margiotta's wife, Norma, and their two children — 13-year-old Norma Jean and 11-year-old Charles, as well as his parents and brother, were on hand when the Granoffs' gift was announced during the University's annual Hall of Fame banquet on Nov. 10. Margiotta and his fellow members of Brown's 1976 Ivy League champion football team were inducted into the Hall of Fame during that ceremony, but it was the news of the memorial scholarship that was greeted with a standing ovation of several minutes duration.

The scholarship fund will be administered in perpetuity by the University's financial aid office and will be made available to applicants who have demonstrated financial need. Descendants of other victims of the World Trade Center and Pentagon attacks will also be considered, along with the sons and daughters of other firefighters, police officers and rescue personnel.

Longtime Brown supporters, the Granoffs reside in Saddle River, N.J.

Margiotta was one of six alumni known to have been killed in the Sept. 11 attacks.

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Mary Jo Curtis