Harry Taback
Family Tribute:

Dear Dad and Mom,

This is a painful way for me to have to honor and tribute you both. I close my eyes everyday and nignt and wish and pray that our family could return to the way it was...and is supposed to be for many years to come. The terrible grief of not being with you on this eaarth is undoubtably more deeeply felt every minute. There is so much for you to both be here for!!!! Tracy, Lori and I have just begun our lives, and not only is Alexa only 6 but you now have a beautiful new grandson too.

My heart aches every time I think of how unfair life has been. I was blessed anough to have been created by the most caring, kind, selfless, compassionate, and loving parents. Yet I was not allowed to have you here long enough.

People often speak of guardian angels watching me, but you both already were angels in my life. I miss you sooooo...... much! I hope you will visit me in my dreams. Looking at pictures is very difficult, Because you look the same as you did when you left. Young and HAPPY with so much to look foward to. You spent 37 years together planning for a long life with your cherished family. This makes me angry, far beyond any I have felt before.

As tears are now falling, I cannot write anymore.

Those colleagues that know my father, know what a true hero and caring, fair, sensitive, honest generous, intellectual and intelligent man he was. And....as for my mother, it should be obvious that his person is greatly similiar to hers. They are the epitome of what I believe a marriage should be.

I love you Mom and Dad.

Forever missing you, your daughter,
Cheryl

I miss you terribly dad, every second of every day. My dad was the best father anyone could ever hope to have. I just wish I could have had him here longer. I know he is with mom now, whom he missed so much. I love you mom and dad and we will all be together again some day.

Lori Taback

Months have passed since Harry Taback, 56, died, but his life is still being celebrated by friends and colleagues who continue to send stories and memories to his daughters. Over 70 people contributed commemorative anecdotes to a tribute journal that was presented to Taback's daughters, Cheryl and Lori Taback and Tracy Catalano, at his memorial mass on Oct. 6. Most of the contributors worked with Mr. Taback. "My dad was not a cut-throat boss," Cheryl recalled. "He gave people a chance and knew their names. It's touching that people sent letters and organized a journal. People are still sending letters. It's an amazing thing to hear that so many people have nice things to say about their boss. He loved his job and really enjoyed what he did."

Mr. Taback was the executive vice president in risk control strategy and consulting and a managing regional director of Marsh & McLennan, where he worked for 30 years. Although he was a lifelong resident on Staten Island, Taback conducted 60 percent of his business traveling throughout the United States, Japan, England, and other foreign locations, giving lectures on risk management. He completed his undergraduate degree at New York University and then became a chemical engineer. He was a highly respected innovator at Marsh & McLennan. Taback also served on the National Safety Council of Risk Management.

Taback often said that that he couldn't retire because there were too many people at the company whom he wanted to help. But he did have retirement plans, including teaching college chemistry and traveling.

Taback was a member of the Forsgate Country Club, where he golfed and celebrated family events. He was also an avid Giants fan and a coin collector.

More than just a businessman, however, Taback was a family man. As Cheryl Taback remembered, "He left work at work. Home was time for us. His main goal was that we were all taken care of, that everything was secure. When my mom passed away, he assumed the role of mom and dad. He made meals, did laundry. I think he was rare, as far as people's dads go. In the office, there was a big joke that if you could come back to life as someone else, you'd want to come back as Harry's daughters."

"The past year was particularly difficult for my dad," Cheryl Taback noted, "because my mom passed away last October." Taback and his wife, Jean, had been married for 34 years. They always did the New York Times crossword puzzle together, and they always took family vacations, regardless of the children's ages. A few months after his wife passed away, Taback and his daughters took a cruise in southern California and the Mexican Riviera. Their father wanted to reassure his children that the family bond remained strong.

Taback is survived by his three daughters, as well as Tracy's daughter, Alexandria, 6.

Reprinted with permission from the Columbia University Newspaper, The Columbia Daily Spectator.

« first < prev (page 1 of 4) next > last »
Harry, thinking of you on this day and remembering your professionalism and knowledge at Marsh. May you rest in peace and continue shining your light on us and your family.
Lauri Hanson, Colleague
Sep 11 2011 9:06AM
Hi Harry. I was thinking of you and your family this week and just wanted to drop a note to let your family know that we miss you and think of you often.

As you may recall my family adopted a Basset Hound puppy shortly after 9/11 and "Harry" is a happy 7 year old mature member of our family. I got into a staring contest with him last weekend and he gave that look - you know that look you used to give me whenever I needed to get over something that was bothering me. So I sat back, took a deep breath and said to myself, Harry Taback must be smiling right now!

We miss you! You probably know that your Giants and Mets are doing just fine these days!

John Barghout

Former Marsh Colleague

John Barghout, Colleague
Sep 16 2008 11:02PM
Cheryl, you and your family are in my thoughts today and every day.

Love,

Dean

Dean, Friend
Sep 11 2008 11:43AM
Thinking of you today, Harry. We miss you and remember you fondly. The company needs more leaders and the world needs more people like you.
Alan Bressler, Friend
Sep 11 2008 10:01AM
Harry, I admired your courage. Thinking of you today.
Sheila Pompan, Colleague
Sep 11 2007 9:13AM
« first < prev (page 1 of 4) next > last »