Remembering Exonians lost on September 11

Twenty-five years ago, three Exonians died in the collapse of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. We remember them and honor their lives, their families and the enduring place they hold in the Exeter community. Their absence remains a part of our shared history, and their memory remains with us.

The following are excerpts of a remembrance published in the Winter 2002 issue of The Exeter Bulletin:

Michael Packer ‘73

On the morning of September 11, Michael Packer, a managing director in Merrill Lynch’s institutional client group, was scheduled to deliver the keynote address at an e-commerce conference on the 106^th floor of the trade center’s north tower. Michael, 45, was a widely respected leader in the financial and technology communities. In 1999, Institutional Investor named him one of the country’s top online finance leaders. According to Thomas Davis, an executive vice president with Merrill Lynch, “Michael’s innovation and leadership brought us to the forefront of the industry.”

Michael came to Exeter as a prep in 1969, the year after his brother, Alex J. Packer, graduated. Michael’s later success would come as a no surprise to those who knew him as a student at Exeter, where he served as a proctor and was a member of Cum Laude and president of the Scientific Society. He went on to his B.A., magna cum laude, from Harvard, and M.S. and Ph.D., in mechanical engineering from MIT.

Married more than 20 years, he is survived by his wife, Rekha, and their two children.

“The heart of Michael’s happiness was his family,” his brother Alex said. “Michael spent countless hours taking the kids to their lessons; working with them at the computer and reading their books to he could share the experience.”

Scott Saber ’82

Like Michael Packer, Scott Saber, 36, was a featured speaker at the e-commerce conference on September 11. Executive director of equities with UBS Warburg, Scott had worked in finance since graduating from Lehigh University in 1986, including stints at Merrin Financial, where he was vice president for sales, and at Morgan Stanley, where he was also a vice president.

At each stage of his life, Scott made deep and lasting friendships. “Scott befriended me on the day I arrived at Exeter,” said Webster Hall dormmate Anthony Malloy, “and he was always kind and generous.”

His colleague Kevin Lupowitz said Scott, “had an unbelievable knack of pulling me off the sidelines and dragging me headfirst in to the game.”

Scott was a devoted uncle to two nieces and a nephew. His family, including brother Bruce ’76, established the Scott H. Saber Memorial Fund to maintain in perpetuity the East 76^th Street playground in Central Park.

Eric “Rick” Thorpe ’85

Rick Thorpe arrived at Exeter in the fall of 1984 as a post-grad senior and quickly developed a large circle of friends. “In the dining hall or in class, Rick had a way of making you smile, no matter what kind of day you were having,” said his classmate William Bullock ’85. “We will always remember as a super athlete without a big ego,” said Ed Colbert ’85, “engaging to everyone he came in contact with, regardless of class or status.”

From Exeter, Rick went to Lafayette College, where he played varsity football and lacrosse and was a student director of the school’s soup kitchen. Within a few years of graduation from college, Rick was working in the equity sales division of Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, eventually rising to vice president. On the morning of September 11, Rick, 35, was at the firm’s offices in the south tower of the World Trade Center.

Rick is survived by his wife, Linda, and their daughter.