Amtrak train crash: Profiles of the 8 people killed in derailment
Dead include college dean, Manhattan real estate executive and Italian businessman
Eight people were killed in an Amtrak train derailment Tuesday night in Philadelphia. The victims include a college dean, a food-safety company vice president; a midshipman at the U.S. Naval Academy; a Manhattan real estate executive; and an Italian businessman. Two were traveling back from a funeral or memorial service.
The victims are:
Abid Gilani
Abid Gilani was trying to return to New York from his uncle's funeral in Virginia on Amtrak — but he never made it.
The 55-year-old Wells Fargo Bank executive had split his time between Washington, New York and Walnut Creek, Calif., where his wife lives to be close to their college-age son and daughter. He'd commute there on weekends.
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After Tuesday's fatal Amtrak derailment, when she couldn't reach her husband, Diane Gilani reportedly rushed to Philadelphia.
Her worst fear was confirmed.
Abid Gilani juggled career and family life as he climbed up various corporate ladders.
He went to university in Canada and kicked off his career as a mine planning engineer in Saskatchewan before moving into banking and the hotel sector, his LinkedIn profile says.
The family eventually moved to Rockville, Md. They still own a home there, according to neighbours who remember them fondly as a tight-knit family.
Gilani's mother, a resident of Toronto, had attended her brother's Virginia funeral earlier this week, according to the New York Daily News.
She must now also bury her son.
Giuseppe Piras
Giuseppe Piras, a wine and olive oil executive from Sardinia, Italy, was in the United States on business, officials said.
The Italian consulate in Philadelphia confirmed that Piras was among the victims. He was 41.
Piras, who hailed from the town of Ittiri on the Mediterranean island, co-founded an olive oil and wine cooperative and was tasked with marketing its goods for export, according to Italian media.
Laura Finamore
Laura Finamore, 47, was returning to New York City from a memorial service for a college friend's mother, a spokesman for her family said.
Laura … never backed down from what she thought was right.- Family statement
The Manhattan resident had texted her mother that she was boarding the train. Her parents saw stories about the crash at about midnight Tuesday and began making calls to area hospitals looking for her.
They got word on Wednesday that the seventh victim of the derailment fit her description, but dental records were needed to confirm it.
Born in Queens, Finamore worked in corporate real estate, and was a senior account director at Cushman & Wakefield.
"Laura was a tenacious deal maker and competitor who never backed down from what she thought was right," her family said in a statement.
Bob Gildersleeve
Bob Gildersleeve, who lived near Baltimore, was vice-president of a food-safety company called Ecolab, company spokesman Roman Blahoski said.
Gildersleeve had worked for the company for 22 years. He was married with two children, ages 16 and 13.
"Bob was an exceptional leader and was instrumental to our success. We will greatly miss him, and our thoughts go out to his beloved family members and friends," the company said in a statement.
Gildersleeve's family had travelled to Philadelphia after the crash, circulating his photo and information about what he was wearing, hoping that he was only missing.
Derrick Griffith
Derrick Griffith, dean of student affairs and enrollment management at Medgar Evers College in Brooklyn, believed in education — for himself as well as others.
Griffith joined Medgar Evers College in 2011 as assistant provost. It was the first of several roles he would fill at the college, where officials said he urged students to pursue education "with vigour."
"Everything about him was symbolic of the highest ... sense of teaching," said College president Rudy Crew. "He was an extraordinary man and we will love him and miss him."
A month ago, the 42-year-old received a doctorate in urban education from the City University of New York Graduate Center. Crew said it was inspiring for students, faculty and staff to see one of their own succeeding to such heights. Griffith's dissertation was on how to reach and mentor young black men, the school said.
Justin Zemser
Justin Zemser, a popular student leader and athlete, was on a break from the U.S. Naval Academy and heading home to Rockaway Beach, New York, where playing high school football helped him and his teammates through the devastation of Superstorm Sandy.
Navy Secretary Ray Mabus called Zemser a "crucial member" of the institution.
The 20-year-old's family released a statement mourning "a loving son, nephew and cousin who was very community-minded." They said the tragedy "has shocked us all in the worst way."
Zemser was in his second year. He served as vice-president of the Jewish Midshipmen Club and played wide receiver on the academy's sprint football team. Friends at the Naval Academy remembered him for his endearing leadership qualities.
"He was always there to pick other people up," teammate James Lieto said Thursday.
Zemser also volunteered with a church program, a soup kitchen and a nursing home and mentored children with autism, U.S. Senator Charles Schumer said. Schumer and U.S. Rep. Gregory Meeks nominated Zemser to the Naval Academy, and Meeks was struck by his "high character, intellectual curiosity and maturity beyond his years."
Jim Gaines
Jim Gaines, an Associated Press video software architect, was a geek's geek — and his colleagues loved him for it.
Jim was more precious to us than we can adequately express.- Family statement
The 48-year-old father of two was named the news agency's Geek of the Month in May 2012 for his "tireless dedication and contagious passion" to technological innovation.
"At AP, not a frame goes by in the world of video that escapes the passionate scrutiny of video architect Jim Gaines," the award said.
Gaines was in the train's quiet car, headed home to Plainsboro, N.J., after meetings Tuesday at the news agency's Washington, D.C., office. His wife, Jacqueline, confirmed his death.
"Jim was more precious to us than we can adequately express," his family said in a statement.
Rachel Jacobs
Rachel Jacobs, a leader in the worker-training and development industry, was commuting home to New York from her new job as CEO of the Philadelphia educational software startup ApprenNet.
The 39-year-old mother of two previously worked at McGraw-Hill, leading the expansion of the company's career-learning business into China, India and the Middle East, and Ascend Learning, another education-technology firm.
Jacobs is the daughter of Gilda Jacobs, a former Michigan state senator and current chief executive of the Michigan League for Public Policy.
The family said in a statement that Rachel Jacobs "was a wonderful mother, daughter, sister, wife and friend" who was devoted to family and social justice.
