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A Believer in Teamwork

The sound of swooning is often heard around college football players. Nicholas Brandemarti was no exception. But the fullback from West Deptford, N.J., who graduated from Fordham University last May, did not abuse the privilege. "On campus, he was known for his genuine respect and reverence for young women," said Sister Anne Walsh, the team's academic adviser, who said he always greeted them with the gallant phrase, "And there she is."

The Fordham coach, David Clawson, called him " In his senior year, concussions forced him to stop playing. He was devastated. Coach Clawson made him a student coach, and the former fullback started up that day. "His teammates were so important that the idea of not being around those guys — he couldn't do it," the coach said. The staff accepted him, the players respected him, and "nobody blinked."

Mr. Brandemarti's mother, Nancy, recalled how her son would have an idea and just do it. He earned a scuba certificate and went mountain climbing for the first time last summer in Maine. She recalled how happy he was to get just the kind of job he wanted, as an analyst at Keefe, Bruyette & Woods. There he could survey the world from the 89th floor of 2 World Trade Center. "He was living the beginning of his dream," Mrs. Brandemarti said.

Profile published in THE NEW YORK TIMES on December 16, 2001.

Dazzled by the Height

It was the height that Nicholas Brandemarti used to love about his job. From his offices at Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, a financial services firm on the 89th floor of 2 World Trade Center, he could look out on all of Manhattan, and on a clear day, to Connecticut. "What amazed him was being above the clouds, being able to see helicopters flying below his floor," said Mr. Brandemarti's father, also Nicholas.

A star football player in high school, Brando, as his friends called him, once ran for 340 yards in a game for West Deptford High School in New Jersey, and went on to play fullback at Fordham University. Lately Mr. Brandemarti, 21, was learning to play golf. The final Saturday of his life, his father, a more experienced golfer, took him out for a competitive round, loser buys dinner. "We ate at Nino's," the elder Mr. Brandemarti said. "I had to pay as usual."

Profile published in THE NEW YORK TIMES on October 10, 2001.


BRANDEMARTI NICHOLAS WILLIAM, of Hoboken and West Deptford, NJ, age 21, on Sept. 11, 2001; graduate of West Deptford High School Class of 1997 and Fordham University Class of 2001; Mr. Brandemarti was an avid football player, scuba diver and golfer; loving son of Nicholas and Nancy (nee Lynch) Brandemarti, of West Deptford, NJ; dear brother of Nicole and Jason Brandemarti, of West Deptford, NJ; loving grandson of Loretta Lynch and her companion Ken; nephew of Carol, Diane and Ted, Bill and Paula, Mike and Gail; godfather of Gavin and a beloved cousin of many. Relatives and friends are invited to his Memorial Mass Sunday, Oct. 7 at 2 P.M. in St. Margaret's R.C. Church, Third St. and Beech Ave., Woodbury Heights, NJ. Memorial contributions may be made to Nicholas William Brandemarti Scholarship Fund: The Bank of Gloucester County, 100 Park Ave., P.O. Box 832, Woodbury, NJ 08096. Expressions of Sympathy may be emailed to: Tributes@McGfuneral.com. Arr. under the direction of McGUINNESS FUNERAL HOMES, 1800-993-0888. ``The Lifetime Tribute Funeral Home'

Paid notice published in THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER on September 30, 2001.