Family Tribute:'LIVE WELL FOR TODAY, FOR YESTERDAY IS A DREAM, AND TOMORROW A VISION. MAKE YESTERDAY A DREAM OF HAPPINESS, AND TOMORROW A VISION OF HOPE.'

IN REMEMBERANCE OF RENA A. SAM-DINNOO

By Andy Dinnoo and Gina R. Sam Born in Port of Spain, Trinidad on January 7, 1973, Rena Alanna Sam-Dinnoo spent much of her young life in Maraval where she attended La Seiva Roman Catholic School. She graduated from Belmont Junior Secondary School in 1988 and then attended Bishops Anstey High School and graduated in 1990. From 1990 to 1992, she studied Business Administration at the University of West Indies. In 1992, she studied one year at Lenore’s Business School in Port of Spain furthering her studies in business from where she then went on to study at Delta Soft Computer Training School in 1993.

On January 25, 1993, she got married to Andy Dinnoo, a professional jockey. Rena Sam-Dinnoo worked temporarily at Barbados Mutual Life, then moved on to Ancafe Printery as a Secretary. She migrated to the United States to join her family in January 1996. After being joined by her husband, Mr. and Mrs. Dinnoo began their new lives together in the United States. Rena’s new life in the US was always a challenge. She worked odd jobs, one of which included working as a cashier at a bakery in Brooklyn from 5:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. On her off days, she would spend time babysitting. Ever willing to improve herself, she was determined to pursue a degree in Business Administration.

At the end of 1996, she landed a job at Chase Manhattan Bank as a Customer Service Representative and by September 1998, she completed her Associates degree in Business Administration-Accounting from Berkeley College in NYC. She then began working at Bratique in 1998 as an Accounting Clerk.

In 1999, she embarked on a career at Marsh & McLennan as a Premium Accountant in the Premium division while continuing her studies for a degree in Business Administration at Pace University. In the spring of 2001, Rena graduated from Pace University with a bachelor’s degree. She also received a promotion in July 2001 as Financial Accountant of the New York Finance Center of Marsh & McLennan and also was in charge of the Global Brokering Bermuda Operations.

With her career now on the road, Rena was looking forward to starting a family. She was also intent on pursuing a master’s degree in accounting in the upcoming years. Aside from her immense devotion to her career and education, Rena was also very committed to her family. She was generous and always willing to help. “Rena was so energetic and full of life,” said her husband.

On the morning of September 11, 2001, Rena Sam-Dinnoo reported for work at the World Trade Center. Her family has not heard from her since. She is dearly missed by her loved ones: Andy Dinnoo, her husband, Clarence Sam, her father, Dhanmapee Sam, her mother, Gina and Lisa Sam, her younger sisters. May she rest in peace.Rena Sam-Dinnoo: A Full Life, Each Second

Her day would start at 4 a.m., when she would rise to make coffee for her husband before he left for work, and would not end until after she had watched the 10 o’clock news. In the intervening hours, Rena Sam-Dinnoo would study for her undergraduate degree at Pace University, cook some dinner for her husband, Andy, work a full day in the accounting division of Marsh & McLennan and attend classes at night. It was not that she was without help — except for the cooking, her husband, who races horses professionally, would do all the housework. It was simply that she 'was a very hardworking person,' in the words of her sister, Gina Sam. Originally from Trinidad, Ms. Sam-Dinnoo had just finished her degree and was looking forward to going on to a master’s and becoming an accountant, her relatives said.

'She was never a dull person,' Mr. Dinnoo said. 'She is well educated, and loved to talk, really about anything.' He said that he and his wife had not seen much of each other lately because he had been away on business for the six weeks before Labor Day, and then she had gone to Boston last weekend to pick apples with relatives. 'We went shopping together to buy groceries on Monday night,' he said. 'Monday night is the last time we went out together.'