Repost: Claude Michale Gann – 2996 Tribute

September 10, 2010 at 3:52 am (Never Forget, Peach State, The 2996 Project)

Reposting this tribute from last year. This 9/11 I will be out of pocket, celebrating the estimable Obi’s birthday and the Dawgs imminent thrashing of the Gamecocks.

Never Forget.

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Mike Gann was 41 and recently happily remarried when he went to the Risk Waters conference at Windows on the World. He and his wife, Robin, had taken an “elopement” with their kids to the beach and then DisneyWorld just a few months before, but were still waiting to take their real honeymoon.

C. Michael Gann, IM 85, of Roswell, was Atlanta’s first reported casualty. He was at a conference on the 106th floor of the first tower struck. He called his wife, Robin, twice — to tell her what had happened and then to say goodbye; smoke was everywhere and he didn’t think he would make it.

He volunteered to attend the conference, because other Algorithmics employees could not attend. The conference was scheduled to end that day and Mike would have headed home.

Mike grew up in Smyrna, Georgia and attended Wills High School. After graduating from Georgia Tech, IM ’85, he pursued a master’s degree in finance and marketing from Mercer University. He loved his family, his church and his Lord.

Ed Bolduc, director of music ministry for St. Ann’s Life Teen program:

“He was one of the most humble and sincere guys I have ever met in my life,” he said. “As a music minister I truly believe that you don’t just play music, but you pray music. He was a shining example of that. It was really inspiring.”

A former worship leader himself, Mike loved to share his gift:

In the 80s at Atlanta Vineyard I was spoiled to feeling this almost every Sunday when the late Mike Gann led us in worshiping the Lord. He was definitely someone cut in David’s mold. But since that time I’ve found it very rare to be in the presence of a worship leader who knows how to lead people into the “presence of God.”

The city of Roswell has dedicated a plaque in memory of Mike and the victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

The Mike Gann Memorial in Roswell Park

His memory lives on.

See Project 2996 for more tributes to those we will never forget.

Many thanks to JustKeith.com, the New York Times 1, the New York Times 2, GTAlumni.org 1, GTAlumni.org 2, the Archdiocese of Atlanta, Endy9Blog.LifeWithChrist.org.