On March 8, Fairfield University alumnus Patrick McGarry ’86 will ride his bicycle more than 3,000 miles across the United States to honor the memory of his sister Katie, who lost her life at the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, and to raise money for the Tunnel to Towers Foundation.
McGarry’s ride will begin in San Diego, California, and conclude 44 days later in St. Augustine, Florida. His coast-to-coast journey will support the Foundation’s mission of providing assistance to first responders and military families.
“I’m honoring Katie 100 percent, but I know that Katie would want something good to come out of it, and that is making a difference in the life of a first responder or military family,” McGarry said.
McGarry knew more than 45 people who died in the attacks—classmates, colleagues, friends he grew up with and from his life on Wall Street and at Fairfield.
A Sister Remembered
Katie McGarry was the youngest of five siblings. She lived in Hoboken, New Jersey. “She was so happy,” he said. “She had just gotten married to a wonderful man from Australia—just a great guy. I was so happy for her, and then to have it taken like that in such a violent manner… it was tough.”
McGarry himself worked in the World Trade Center and escaped during the terrorist attack in 1993. In 2001, he watched the events of Sept. 11 unfold from Montana.
From Grief to Purpose
The idea for the ride emerged years later, during the isolation of the Covid-19 pandemic. After decades working on trading floors, McGarry suddenly found himself working alone from home.
“So I got on my bike for two hours a day in my neighborhood, just to get out of the house,” he said. “And I started riding every day, and I found something therapeutic about it.”
The miles offered time for reflection and brought him back, again and again, to thoughts of his sister—and to the courageous first responders who ran toward danger on 9/11.
“When I say, ‘never forget,’ it’s not just the horror—it’s the unity and the love that came out of that,” he said. “It was the best of America... You know, I just wanted to do one act that honored my sister but produced something good.”
“I think we have a responsibility to support our first responders and our military,” continued McGarry. “They run to us at our worst possible moment… and they deserve our support and respect at their worst moment—when they’re injured or killed on the job…I have found that to be an excellent way to bring light out of darkness.”
As he prepares to leave for San Diego, McGarry knows the ride will test him in every way, but his purpose is clear.
“I want to focus on the goodness and the love because that's all my sister would have wanted.”
