Description Recovered NOKIA brand cell phone belonging to Thomas Joseph Collins. The phone is significantly damaged, has a cracked screen, and is encrusted in dust and dirt.
Historical Notes Dix Hills, Long Island, native Thomas Collins lived in Manhattan with Julia, his wife of 15 months. A golfer, skier, and fisherman, Thomas frequently gathered family and friends for weekend outings. He joined Sandler O’Neill & Partners in 1988 and rose to become a managing director. On September 11, Thomas was at work on the South Tower’s 104th floor. He was 36 years old.
Curator's Comment Thomas Collins routinely carried a number of items, including this cell phone, a pocket calculator, and a leather day planner in which he kept track of lists, projects, goals, and inspirational notes to himself. He typically arrived early at his job as a managing director of Sandler O’Neill & Partners, making it a point to be the first person at the office and the last to leave. Thomas looked forward to starting a family with his wife of 15 months, Julia, and anticipated that his hard work would pay off with an early retirement. This cell phone, along with other portable business devices belonging to Thomas, was recovered at Ground Zero. HIDE