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The Perfect Life

At the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, Tara Creamer was an apparel-marketing major because, as her husband, John, said, "She knew right away what she wanted to do."

Apparel marketing it was, and Mrs. Creamer got a job as a buyer for TJX, the company that runs the T. J. Maxx clothing stores. She switched to planning manager when she had her first child and wanted to cut back on the traveling that buyers have to do. She was on one of her infrequent trips from her home in Worcester, Mass., to Los Angeles for planning sessions when she boarded American Airlines Flight 11 on Sept. 11.

Tara and John Creamer met at college, where he was captain of the football team, and she never missed a game. "Her life, in her eyes, was perfect," said her sister, Liz Waldo. "She had a tremendous life in her short 30 years. Her smile was radiant. It was her most beautiful feature."

Tara and Liz grew up as two of the four Shea sisters in Westfield, Mass. "The four girls looked on ourselves as four sturdy legs on a table," Mrs. Waldo said, "and now we're down to three wobbly legs."

Profile published in THE NEW YORK TIMES on December 24, 2001.


Tara K. (Shea), 30, of Worcester, a passenger on American Airlines Flight 11, died Tuesday, in New York City. She leaves husband of 7 years John J. Creamer, her 4 year old son Colin J. Creamer and 15 month old daughter Nora A. Creamer. She also leaves her father James F. Shea of Westfield, 2 brothers Kevin J. Shea of Omaha, NE, and Brian J. Shea of Granville, MA, 3 sisters Maureen A. Shea and Kellie P. DiFilippo both of Reading and Elizabeth M. Waldo of Westfield and many nephews and nieces. She was born in Westfield, her mother was Colleen M. (O'Connor) Shea who died in 1995. Mrs. Creamer was a 1993 graduate of the University of Massachusetts. Mrs. Creamer had been Planning Manager for TJX Corporation in Framingham. She had been actively involved with several charitable organizations the TJX Corporation including the American Cancer Society and Christmas Relief for the Homeless. A Memorial Service will he held Saturday, September 15th at 1:00 PM in Our Lady of the Angels Church, 1222 Main Street, Worcester. O'Connor Brothers Funeral Home, 592 Park Ave., WORCESTER, is directing the arrangements. The family requests that flowers be omitted and contributions made to the Creamer Children's Scholarship c/o Worcester Credit Union, 520 West Boylston Street, Worcester, MA 01606.

Paid Notice published in THE BOSTON GLOBE on 9/14/2001.