Tragedy Takes The Life of Someone I Knew

By Larry Jaffee

I usually don't use the Walford Gazette to talk about non-EastEnders related subjects, but due to the tragic events last Tuesday, I must make an exception. Among the passengers in the American Airlines Flight 11 from Boston that hit the World Trade Center Sept. 11 was a friend of mine, Robert Hayes, whom I knew through my day job. He was vice president of sales and marketing for CD/DVD manufacturing equipment supplier Netstal Machinery, Inc.

I didn't know Bob well, but in fact said hello to him a little over two weeks ago at a DVD conference that my company sponsored in California. We briefly talked about baseball-me a Yankees fan and he a Red Sox fan.

I first met Bob in the spring of 1998 a few months into my tenure at the magazine when Netstal hosted a two-day replication seminar at its U.S. headquarters in Devens, MA for prospective customers and the press. He patiently answered my neophyte questions about the intricacies of optical disc molding.

On the morning of Sept. 13 I confirmed with Netstal that he was among the casualties, and read in the New York Times Bob was 37 years old and the father of two sons, four years old and six months old, I reflected on that car trip to Netstal, on which my wife and children came with me, about three-and-a-half years ago. My daughter was a month old, my son approaching his fourth birthday.

Hayes lived in Amesbury, MA with his wife, Debora, and their two children, Robby, four years old, and Ryan, six months. He was devoted to his family and was an avid surfer and boater.

At the time of his death, Bob was en-route to Los Angeles to visit several customers.

Hayes was a long-time employee of Netstal, having joined the company in 1987 as a service technician after graduating from the University of Lowell (Mass.) in 1986 with a B.S. degree in industrial technology. "Bob was a very valuable, loyal and trustworthy employee and friend," said Werner Christinger, president of Netstal Machinery, Inc. "He was one of the real honest guys, and he treated us and his customers with great respect. He was a devoted family man, too. This is a great loss for our company and he will be very deeply missed."

As news of Netstal's loss and of the tragedy spread, many customers called expressing shock, disbelief and sympathy at the loss of such a respected man in the industry. Amy Hunter, Netstal's human resources manager, said "I think we are all still in a bit of shock over what has happened, because of the overall events and especially from losing one of our own. The support that has been offered from employees as well as customers is tremendous. Bob was extremely well liked and respected. He will be missed beyond words."

In response to inquires about what can be done to express condolences in the wake of his tragic and untimely loss, Netstal has established a memorial fund for Bob's family and any and all donations will be greatly appreciated. Donations may be made to the fund either in care of the bank, or directly to us here at Netstal.

Debora L. Hayes, in trust for Robert J. Hayes, beneficiary
Netstal Memorial Trust
Sovereign Bank
11 Park Street
Leominster, MA 01453

"We are asking that all condolences and sympathies be sent to us here at Netstal Machinery Inc. (75 Lake George Street, Devens, MA 01432 tel: 978-772-5100; fax: 978-772-5151) and they will then be forwarded to Bob's family.

I also should note that on Tuesday morning I was sitting on a JFK runway enroute for a conference in China, my plane about 10th in line waiting to take off when the captain announced at about 9:10 a.m. that he just learned "a tragedy occurred. Two small planes hit the World Trade Center." I looked over my shoulder out the window and could see the smoke billowing.

I later learned that my father, a New York taxicab driver, had just left off a ride in front of the World Trade Center when the first plane hit. He managed to go 10 blocks north after that at which time he viewed with his passenger the second plane hit. It wasn't until 2:30 in the afternoon that I knew my father was okay. I picked him up at the train station 7 p.m. that night.