Local Residents React to bin Laden's Death

Peace of mind, fear, optimism and many mixed emotions filled residents in Malverne and West Hempstead Monday morning after learning about the death of Osama bin Laden, the mastermind behind the attacks of 9/11.

"It's a good victory, but it doesn't make up for all the people we lost," said Robert Giarratano, 66, of Malverne. "It will never bring anyone back."

Giarratano said his nephew's girlfriend was among the nearly 3,000 people who perished in the Twin Towers that day.

"She was a real sweetheart," he added. 

John, a 55-year West Hempstead resident, who wished not to disclose his last name to protect his family's privacy, also reflected on the loss of one of his loved ones who had been inside the World Trade Center on the day of the attacks.

His cousin's 23-year-old daughter had just started a new job with a subsidiary of Cantor Fitzgerald, whose offices were in one of the towers.

"She had only been working there three weeks," John said. "She had called my cousin when the building was hit and my cousin told her to get out. She tried but they found her remains on the 47th floor."

For the loss of this young life and the many others taken that day, he said he was glad bin Laden was dead.

Sunday night President Barack Obama confirmed that the 9/11 mastermind and leader of al-Qaeda had been killed during an operation he ordered inside Pakistan a week ago. The president added that American officials were in possession of his body.

"It's like the devil was slain," said Joyce Mathews, while shopping at the in West Hempstead, who admitted she needed to seek counseling for severe depression in the days following 9/11.

Roy Varghese, a Franklin Square resident who was also patronizing the supermarket, said the news of bin Laden's death did bring him some peace of mind too.

Varghese had been working in Manhattan on 9/11, driving a bus, when he diverted out of Midtown to evacuate the area surrounding the Twin Towers. He recalls driving to the Midtown Tunnel with a vehicle full of passengers.

"We saw the World Trade Center burning but thought it was just a regular fire until we saw the news later on," he said.

Malverne resident Matt Trezza was only in sixth grade, sitting in a classroom at , when the planes collided into the Twin Towers and Pentagon on 9/11. Now 20, Trezza will add May 1 to the list of historic days he has lived through already in his young life.

On Sunday evening, he said he was watching the Mets game on television when the news broke that Bin Laden had been killed.

"I'll never forget the whole stadium was chanting 'U-S-A,'" he said while waiting for a train to Manhattan Monday morning. "It brings a sense of closure...and as President Obama said, hopefully it brings back a sense of unity to the country."

Also, waiting on the platform at the Malverne train station near Trezza was Franklin Square resident Randy Colgate, who spent many days following the 9/11 attacks at Ground Zero taking photographs of the aftermath.

Colgate was working with the New York City Fire Department to document the devastation and captured the traumatic sights, many of which have not been released to the public this day. Some of his shots can be seen in the book Here is New York.

"The experience changed me drastically," Colgate said. "I think about it all the time, whenever I drive by the site."

Even for those who did not have a direct connection to 9/11 like Joan Solinto, a 38-year Malverne resident, it was emotional to learn about bin Laden's demise.

"I was ecstatic," Solinto said. "It's wonderful news. My heart goes out to the families who lost loved ones. I hope this gives them some closure."

Still with the celebratory feelings also came concerns about what the future will bring.

"I am a glad he's no longer a threat, but I don't think we heard the end of extreme Islamist threats," said Mary Anne, a Malverne resident and devoted Catholic that added that "as crazy as it may sound...she's praying for [bin Laden's] soul."

"I think it's is going to satisfy a lot of families that he's dead...but the problem is not solved," Giarratano said, speculating along with many citizens of the world that another terrorist will soon step up to fill Bin Laden's shoes.

"They killed the symbol, but not the way," said another man over at the Starbucks in West Hempstead. "There are 10 million Osama bin Ladens."

The threat of bin Laden's international terrorist organization, al-Qaeda, possibly launching another attack in his name had some locals very worried.

"I am afraid," said 20-year West Hempstead resident Donna Sievers.

"As America rejoices we should all be really concerned too," said Cynthia Moss, a Lynbrook resident who was shopping in the village of Malverne with her young daughter.

Ayeh Baruch, a West Hempstead resident, said al-Qaeda is always plotting terrorist attacks. "They will  probably dedicate one that is already existing in his name." 

Others were confident that the United States would be able to thwart any such threats.

Proudly sporting a USA baseball cap, Paul Bahr, of Franklin Square, said "I'm sure they will try to retaliate but if they are smart they wouldn't. You shouldn't mess with the US of A."

Bahr explained that his cousin, now a retired firefighter, suffered severe smoke inhalation from working at the towers.

"His lungs turned to black," he said.

Trezza was also optimistic that the United States would fend off any attack.

"I don't think they'll be able to succeed," he said. "In the past 10 years, there has been nothing on our soil." 

Varghese echoed this sentiment, saying, "I believe the forces out there will protect us."

Malverne resident Paul Brandel also put his faith in the authorities and headed to work in Manhattan morning, although he noted that the train seemed less crowded than usual.

"You have to continue on...but definitely be more vigilant and aware of your surroundings," Brandel said,  noting that life goes on, bills need to be paid.

Brandel, who was working in Melville on 9-11 and witnessed a number of his coworkers learn that their loved ones had perished that day, said the talk of a possible revenge attack is not stopping him from boarding a plane next week to fly to Chicago.

"I have trust in the authorities  and professionals who are protecting us," he said. "If we stop doing what we're supposed to do then [the terrorists] win." 

Malverne resident Tom Pampillonia also refused to succumb to any fears even if an attack was possible.

He said, "If you live like a coward you die everyday." 

Pampillonia said he knew friends who had perished on 9/11 and was glad to hear Bin Laden had been killed, adding, "Karma is good."