Gary Haag
Gary Haag was the Pied Piper of the neighborhood. Children would flock to his house when they saw him drive home from work. He would lead the children off to games of baseball, soccer or hockey. Bicycles and scooters would be left scattered in the Haag driveway, their owners off playing with Mr. Haag and his kids.
It was never about winning, or competing to be strongest and fastest. Everyone was invited. Even Mr. Haag’s 2-year-old daughter, Molly, would join in and kick the ball when she could.
He would get home to Ossining, N.Y., from his job at Marsh & McLennan at 6:30 p.m., change clothes, and rush through dinner so he could play with the children until the sun went down -- or until his wife, Mary, put her foot down. His sons, Michael and Kevin, started homework right after school so they would be ready when dad came home.
Mr. Haag, 36, loved sports and adored children. Coaching united the two. He coached a peewee football team before he got married and he coached a T-ball team after he had kids.
He was an avid sports fan and would bring his kids to Yankees and Rangers games. Sports was a glue for Mr. Haag and his children. 'It was something special they shared together,' his wife said.
Copyright (c) 2001 by The New York Times Co. Reprinted by permission.
Add Your Tribute
Tributes
Gary you are and will be forever remembered in our hearts. xo
Jennifer Anderson, Friend
Gary - thinking of you this evening as well as Sal. You are missed.
Christian Wise, Colleague
I never knew you, but you and Mary should be very proud of how your kids have turned out. I don’t know Molly, but Mike and Kevin are great young men.
Tom Harding, Friend
Thinking of you today Gary, may you rest in peace my friend.
Norman Perkel, Colleague
I passed through Rehoboth Beach DE the other day and good thoughts of you passed through my mind. You would always be in that awesome penthouse unit of your aunt's(?) near the North Shores. You were a good guy then, and I'm sure a sad loss to all who knew you. You sounded like a great dad. You're the only person I knew in the towers; I had a buddy who was in the lobby and got out. Best wishes to your family, whom I don't know. I'm an old childhood buddy, Pierre Welch from Tallmadge Avenue, Chatham, NJ. I moved out in 1981 and am now living in Potomac, MD.
pierre welch, Friend
Thinking of you...our kids are finishing high school and heading to college now....Marilyn
Marilyn Boss, Colleague
Thinking of you today. -N
Norman Perkel, Friend
Dear Gary - Thinking of you and your kind smile, God bless you and your family. Much love!
Nancy Gonzalez, Friend
Gary, your legacy will live on forever through your children. You would be so proud! And through your family and friends...who will never forget you and where you will always be alive in their hearts and spirits.
Michele, Friend
Gary-- a day of remembrance for a most memorable man. God bless you all.
Jonathan M. Levirne, Friend
My thoughts and prayers are with you, Mary, Michael, Kevin and Molly....
Jennifer Liddy, Friend
Thinking of Gary. 8 years later...seems like yesterday. How proud he would be of his family and his children. God Bless.
Marilyn Boss, Colleague
Never forgotten...
Neena, Friend
Thinking of you today..
Norman Perkel, Friend
I am very close to the Haag family i always feel like i'm part of their family. I remeber i would go to their house and I would play with their dog and his daughter molly haag with mine and molly's toy lawnmower! I really and truly loved Mr.Haag
kelly nolan, Friend
i'm gary haags daughter. i'm writing this at 9 years old. i remember always chewing on the foam football. every week there would be a new football in my mouth. i wish i got to know him more. but to remember we have a Gary Haag bowl, were we have good friends over and play a whole football game.
molly haag, Family
I'm 9 years old and i'm one of mr.Haags childrens friends.I remember when the Haag's would come to my house almost every weekend!I used to call him smiley face!!!!
kelly nolan, Friend
Molly Haag is a very close friend of Mia Weeks.
Laura and Julia Iorio Mia and Brooke Weeks, Colleague
Gary: It is a beautiful September day and my thoughts and prayrers are with you, Mary and the children. There are not enough words to express how much you are missed. You were such a loving father and husband. I am honored to have known you and will carry your memory in my heart forever.
Jennifer Liddy, Friend
I remember Gary as such a loving and devoted father and he will always be an inspiration to me to be the same. I'll be sure to leave work early tonight to play some baseball with my two children and he will be in our prayers.
Christian Wise, Colleague
I always remember gary as a great member of the family. I still have the memories of when our whole family would get together, and he would always be with the kids. He was a wonderful father to his children, and i know he would be so proud of them to this day. Whenever the family meets, its not the same. I will always miss gary, and he will always be in all of our hearts.
ellen costa, Family
Gary was a very special person. He was my neighbor when he and Mary lived in Florham Park. He helped me through a very difficult time in my life and actually helped set me up with my husband. He will be missed. Lisa
Lisa Iantosca, Friend
A number of Gary's College roomates are starting a fund to contribute to the Gary R Haag Memorial Scholarship fund at Kutztown University. Our goal is to raise $10,000 in order to have a perpetual Scholarship. Please contact me if you are willing to contribute. I miss the big man now more than ever. Rich Berg
Rich Berg, Friend
Gary, Thinking of you as I probably will for the rest of my days buddy. This world is a different place without you and I feel like I am a better person having known you. -NP
Norman Perkel, Friend
I played high school football with Gary. He played center and linebacker--positions that matched his personality--he was hard-nosed, hard-working and dedicated. Every 9/11 provides me with a painful reminder that Gary is gone and that I will never see him at another high school reunion. While it is painful to remember how he left us and went on to be with the Lord, I am hopeful that those who knew him will focus on how he lived.
Greg Eriksen, Friend
G, Remembering... T
Toni, Colleague
It's taken me two years to write this. Definitely two years too long.. on one hand I felt compelled to seek out Gary's family to express my deep sadness for their loss but on the other hand I harbored a strong feeling that if I was to call or write that I would be opening up wounds I hope nobody ever has to experience. Reading the tribute reprinted from the NY Times only confirms what I had suspected all along. Gary's Wife and children were everything to him. I only hope in my lifetime to have children of my own and live by the example my friend personified of being a loving father proud of his children, their acomplishments, and the time they spent with each other. Anyone who visited Gary in his office knows exactlly what I mean by this.. from the pictures of his family, the hockey pucks collected from games he attended with the kisd, to the paper plates with his childrens finger-paintings on them. Gary was the quintasential proud father and husband. Where ever you are my friend I miss knowing you and will never forget you.
N.Perkel, Colleague
Gary was one of the good guys. He always had a moment to say hello and help. While I usually had a quick claim question, our conversations always ended with us talking about our children. There has not been a day that goes by that I don't think about Gary. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends.
Marilyn Boss, Colleague
Thinking of you today on your birthday... you will never be forgotten. All I know from my own experience is that the more loss we feel the more grateful we should be for whatever it was we had to lose. It means that we had something worth grieving for. The ones I'm sorry for are the ones that go through life not knowing what grief is. -Frank O'Connor I know for certain that we never lose the people we love, even to death. They continue to participate in every act, thought and decision we make. Their love leaves an indelible imprint in our memories. We find comfort in knowing that our lives have been enriched by having shared their love. -Leo Buscaglia
Neena T. Akunevicz (AXIS USA), Friend
Haagala, It will never be the same without you, I miss your Kool-Aid smile. T
T, Colleague