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Sweet Dream of a Husband

Here was Richard E. Bosco's typical morning: He would wake about 6:30 and hop in the shower. He would be joined by Abby, his 2-year-old daughter, who had recently decided that showering with dad was a fun way to start her day. After shower time, she would stand on a stool beside him as he lathered up. With her toy razor blade, they shaved side by side, chatting away.

Mr. Bosco taught his son, Richie, 3 1/2, how to tackle. Then he brought him inside for a glass of strawberry milk.

Mr. Bosco grew up in Suffern, N.Y., where he met his wife, Traci. They started dating when she was 17. "He just seemed genuine, like I could trust him right away," she recalled. "I just felt comfortable." They married in 1995, and Mrs. Bosco describes him as a sweet, sweet dream of a husband: he lavished her with attention and compliments. He did not wait to be asked to do the dishes, take out the garbage or throw in a load of laundry. "We never fought," she said. "It was total teamwork."

Mr. Bosco, 34, did not work at the World Trade Center. A financial specialist for Citibank, he was trying to cultivate new clients. On Sept. 11 his first appointment of the day was at Cantor Fitzgerald.

Profile published in THE NEW YORK TIMES on October 20, 2001.