In Honor of Vincent Litto

Regrettably, I didn’t have the honor of knowing Vincent M. Litto in life, but I will forever remember him, and I feel privileged to honor him this September 11th and those yet to come. To see him smiling in the photo below and read how truly kind he was, it is hard to imagine the world without him. His smile makes you want to smile, too.

Vincent liked golf and baseball and especially loved the New York Yankees and legendary centerfielder Mickey Mantle. He was a parishioner at St. Clare’s R.C. Church, Great Kills. He was born in Brooklyn and moved to Great Kills (Staten Island) in 1975 and Eltingville in 1986. He was a husband, a father, an uncle, a brother, a son, and a friend. I can confidently say he was a good man.

The 2996 Project

Learning about Vincent through the 2,996 Project deeply moved me. The campaign at 2,996 encourages people to create a tribute of their own in honor of those who lost their lives on 9/11. Those of us participating in this project prefer to focus on remembering the victims on September 11th rather than those who contributed to their deaths.

I researched everything I could find on Vincent. He seemed like the kind of man one would be proud to know, to work beside, and to be friends with. He was kind and caring. He was a family man; he treasured and cherished his family. I hope you’ll take some time to read and learn about this wonderful man whom I never had the chance to meet but will forever remember.

This is his story.

I will honor Vincent Litto

Name: Vincent M. Litto
Age: 52
Residence: Eltingville, Staten Island – New York, United States
Occupation: Vice President, Cantor Fitzgerald (Over-the-Counter Trading Dept.)
Location: World Trade Center, 104th floor of Tower 1.

It was one of the rare mornings Linda Litto was not awake at 5 a.m., wishing her husband, Vincent M. Litto, goodbye as he left for work at the World Trade Center.

He always walks out of the bedroom with me saying, Have a great day. Sept. 11 is the only morning that I can remember that I didn’t say goodbye – said Mrs. Linda Litto, his wife.

The Eltingville resident, who worked on the 104th floor of Tower 1, has been missing since the terrorist attacks on the Twin Towers. Up until that day, he was living and enjoying his life peacefully with his children and grandchildren – said his wife.

She was sleeping soundly the morning of Sept. 11. Mr. Litto, 52, a Senior Vice President at Cantor Fitzgerald, never woke her.

Vincent At Work And In Life

Vincent was a Senior Vice President in the Over-the-Counter Trading Department at Cantor Fitzgerald, where he had worked for the last eight years.

He loved the financial world, but the most important things in his life were family and friends – Mrs. Linda Litto

The Litto’s backyard was the central location for get-togethers with family and friends.

We had wonderful times. He was the most generous, caring, giving and loving person in the world. – Mrs. Linda Litto

The two met in 1974 at EF Hutton and Co. She was a secretary, and he worked in the “cage,” or back office, where orders were executed. They married nine months later, and ten months after that, they started a family.

Vincent moved on to Drexel Burnham, where he worked as a trader. When the company closed, he worked for a short time for Kidder Peabody before moving to Cantor Fitzgerald in 1993, shortly after the first World Trade Center bombing. After attending Kingsborough Community College and Hunter College, Vincent became a New York City Police Officer. He was on the force for three years before deciding Wall Street was where he wanted to be. He had great respect for the Police Department but never questioned his decision to leave, said his family.

Vincent joined the ranks of others working in the world’s financial capital in Lower Manhattan.

They worked very, very hard to take care of their families. That’s what they did, these poor innocent victims – Linda said of the thousands lost in the World Trade Center disaster.

I just want everyone to know that these people did not die in vain because this country will survive this, and our grandchildren will grow up in a peaceful and tranquil world.

Vincent Litto by Katie Petras

*This letter was written by his daughter, Katie Petras, on behalf of his family.

I sit here and I wonder, I just wonder why,
Why God took you from me, why you had to die.
I think or you all day and I think of you at night,
It just drives me crazy and it really isn’t right.
How can this be happening? How can this be real?
I’m so sick of hearing that time can only heal.
You’re there no matter where I go, no matter where I am.
I really just can’t take this, I just don’t think I can
How could you be gone? How did your life just end?
I just can’t do it Daddy, I need to see again.
How can I wait forever to see your smiling face?
I don’t want to hear that you’re in better place.
The better place is here with me and those who love you so.
I am just so angry and it hurts more than you could know.
I wake up in the morning and it still feels like a dream.
Then I stop and look around and it makes me want to scream.
You can’t truly be gone Daddy, it really just can’t be,
There’s so much more for us to do, so much for use to see.
Birthday parties, weddings, Sunday dinners and more,
With you not here it feels meaningless and I ask myself “what for?”
Who cares about the parties and the presents and the cake?
You’re gone and there’s only one wish I need to make.
I wish that you were Daddy, I wish you didn’t leave.
It doesn’t make any sense and it’s so hard to believe.
I need to hear you voice Daddy, I need to see your smile.
I need to feel a big bear hug, God, it’s only been a little while.
How can I last a lifetime without seeing you again?
Is all of my pain and sorrow ever going to end?
It won’t end until I’m with you Daddy, in that better place.
It won’t end until once again I can touch your handsome face.
I count days, I count hours and minutes until we’re together,
And when that moment finally comes, Daddy, I’ll hold onto you forever.

Love Always,

Linda, Katie, Kristen, Kimberly, Mom, Michele, Joey, Peter, Robby, Stacy, Steve, Lauren, Julia, Joseph and Vincent

Vincent Litto Obituary

Published by Legacy Remembers on Nov. 19, 2001

Very Large Group of ‘Us’

When Vincent Litto’s sister was stricken with multiple sclerosis in 1979, she was no longer able to care for her daughter. So Mr. Litto and his wife, Linda, took the daughter in and raised her as their own. She was one of four girls Mr. Litto doted on.”Although I was not born his daughter, he treated me as nothing less,” said Michele Reitano, 33, as a thousand friends and relatives at a recent memorial service mourned Mr. Litto, 52, a vice president at Cantor Fitzgerald. “I was privileged to be part of his family, his home and to have him as my father.”

Michelle’s sisters ‹ and that is what they consider themselves ‹ told their stories, too.

Kimberly Litto, 20, spoke of the crowd around their Staten Island dinner table. “I’d ask who was coming for Sunday dinner,” she said, “and he’d answer ‘You know, just us.’ “

“Just us,” to Mr. Litto, meant “Grandma, Grandpa, Poppy, Katie, Peter, Vincent, Michele, Joey, Lauren, Julia, Robbie, Stacey, the Tolkins, the Sorrentinos, the Roccobonos, the Laskys, the Palmisanos and Steve.”

Catherine Litto Petras recalled the many ways her father taught his girls to “do the right thing,” some as simple as “making sure to say hello and goodbye to everyone who came in out house, whether it be the sprinkler guy or our grandfather.”

And Kristen Litto, 22, asked mourners to close their eyes and conjure a special moment with her father. “The way you felt at that moment,” she said, “is the way our father made us feel every single moment of every single day of our lives.”

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Vincent is remembered as a generous, caring, giving, and loving person. In addition to his wife, the former Linda Sorrentino, Vincent is survived by four daughters, Michele Reitano, Katie Petras, Kristen and Kimberly; his parents, Michael and Marie Litto, and four grandchildren. His sister, Michele Lane, died in 1997.

Memories of Vincent Litto

God bless you, Vincent. I remember you from high school; I last saw you 35 years ago in 1966 when we graduated. We were on the intramural bowling team together, and had many classes together in senior year. You were a nice guy, great laugh, sense of humor, a good person. I am so sorry for your family to lose such a great guy. – Bob DiGiulio

We miss you so much you will always be loved and in our hearts. – The Larescas, 11/13/2004

I miss you more every day. You are the best. I love you, Uncle Vin. – Mike Lasky

You showed so much to so many. You showed your family the meaning of love. To those who you came into contact with, you showed them a sign of warmth and compassion. You were the definition of an angel here on Earth. You were so kind, so warm and so gentle to so many, your warmth and love for your family and for life will never be forgotten. With love and memories forever. We miss you. “We only part to meet again.” – (Cousin) Shannon D.

Vinny, It is hard to believe that you and Louis are gone. Like with Louis, the last time I saw you was at cousin Tommy’s wedding. You and Linda walked in arm in arm, smiling from ear to ear, not for the people there but for each other! You and Linda were so in love, so happy, just so right for each other. I hear so many stories about all the wonderful things you did for other people and I wonder why people like you and Louis were taken from your loved ones. I have to believe that God has a greater plan for us all. Vinny, please pray for Linda, she is so devistated! Rest in peace. – (Cousin) Patty

Vinny, After you were first gone, I found it very hard to go to your house, knowing that I wouldn’t have your smile and hug to greet me. Linda, Katie, Kristen, Kimberly and the rest of your wonderful family, continue to make me feel apart of the family. Katie continues to be my best friend and “twin” sister and her memories of you or feeling that you are still there with us in spirit is what keeps your warmth, kindness and love in my heart. -Love Maria Christiano (Staten Island, NY )

I miss you more than words can ever say and I love you more and more each day. Not a day goes by without me thinking of you. Vincent is so big, you would be so proud he’s talking and he knows your face. Every picture he sees of you he points and smiles and sayd “Poppy” Watch over him please, watch over all of us we need you!! Bye Daddy – Katie, 2004

Four years later, Daddy, and we still miss you every day. We love you forever. – Kimberly, 12/20/2005

5 years later and it still feels like yesterday, not a day goes by that I do not think of you and miss you. I love you. – Katie, 09/10/2006

You can read all the tributes to Mr. Litto at Legacy.com

The wonderful quit patches you see in this post are part of United In Memory the 9/11 Victims Memorial Quit Project which travels across the country. This 9/11 you can view this beautiful tribute in Staten Island from 11 AM to 6 PM. Check their website for additional dates and locations near you or to contribute.

Vincent was a good man and his legacy lives on through his family and many charitable benefits in his honor such as The Vincent Litto Memorial Golf Outing to Benefit the NYU Pediatric Cardiology Program which raised over $40,000.

Additionally, Vincent has a street named in his honor in New York, the city he loved and served for so many years.

His wife Linda continues to remain strong and speaks out on his behalf. She recently spoke to 101 WINS regarding the trial of confessed al-Qaida conspirator Zacarias Moussaoui.

Vincent is honored on the internet through several wonderful tributes; mine is just one.

Litto Family

If you’re a member of the Litto Family and have more to share, I’d love you to reach out and add to this legacy post in honor of Vincent. May God bless you.

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