Tech world mourns loss of employees

Among those on the four planes hijacked Tuesday were employees from technology companies Cisco Systems, Oracle, Applied Materials, Compaq Computer, Akamai Technologies, Metrocall, MRV Communications, Netegrity, eLogic, Raytheon Company, Sun Microsystems, NextWave Telecom, BEA Systems, Vividence and 3Com.

Cisco said Thursday that executive Suzanne Calley was among those killed when American Airlines flight 77 crashed into the Pentagon on Tuesday in Washington, D.C. Calley, 42, was in strategic marketing for the networking giant and was in the midst of a business trip.

"We deeply regret the loss of Suzanne Calley," the company said in a statement. "All of our thoughts, prayers and support are with Suzanne's family, and the thousands of families affected by this incident. Suzanne's energy and enthusiasm were contagious. She was highly respected by her friends and colleagues and her presence will be greatly missed by all. We are all grieving over the loss of Suzanne."

Calley's 43rd birthday would have been Monday, Sept. 17. Wednesday was her 20th wedding anniversary.

Software maker Oracle confirmed Thursday that Sales Account Manager Todd Beamer, 32, was onboard United Airlines flight 93, which crashed about 80 miles southeast of Pittsburgh, Penn.

Oracle continues to search for six consultants who were scheduled to be in the World Trade Center at the time of the attacks.

Beamer, from Plainsboro, N.J., was the father to two boys, and his wife is due to give birth to a third child in January, Oracle Chief Marketing Officer Mark Jarvis said. "He was one of those guys excited by life and excited by Oracle," said Jarvis, who added that Beamer was always wearing a smile.

Applied Materials, the largest maker of chip manufacturing equipment, confirmed Thursday that one of its employees, Alona Avraham, perished onboard United Airlines flight 175. That was one of two planes that crashed into and destroyed the World Trade Center's twin towers. Avraham, 30, had been with the company for about a year as a manufacturing engineer associate, according to the company.

"Our hopes and thoughts are with the victims of these terrible tragedies and the families that they leave behind," James Morgan, chief executive of Applied Materials, said in a statement. "We are deeply saddened by the apparent loss of one of our own employees, Alona Avraham, who will be greatly missed."

Applied Materials said that Avraham had been traveling on vacation from Boston to Los Angeles.

Compaq confirmed Thursday that Jeff Coombs, 42, was killed on American Airlines flight 11 bound from Boston to Los Angeles when it hit the World Trade Center.

According to American Airlines, 92 people were on this flight.

Compaq said Coombs, who lived in Abington, Mass., served as a technology consultant for Compaq's global services division.

Akamai loses co-founder
Akamai, a Boston-based Internet infrastructure company, confirmed Wednesday that its co-founder was onboard one of the hijacked flights that crashed into New York's World Trade Center on Tuesday.

Daniel Lewin, Akamai's co-founder and chief technical officer, was onboard American Airlines flight 11, the company said.

"Danny was a wonderful human being. He will be deeply missed by his many friends at Akamai," Akamai Chief Executive George Conrades said in a statement. "Our thoughts and prayers are with Danny's family, friends and colleagues during this time of national tragedy and personal loss."

Lewin, who was 31, is survived by his wife and two children, the company said.

Akamai, a "content distribution" company dedicated to speeding Net traffic, is one of the most prominent technology start-ups in Boston's high-tech region. Lewin helped found the company in 1998, along with a group of Massachusetts Institute of Technology researchers. His MIT master's degree thesis formed much of the core of Akamai's original "Freeflow" technology.

Lewin was born in Denver and was raised in Jerusalem. Before his years at Akamai, he worked for IBM's research laboratory in Haifa, Israel. He also served for more than four years in the Israel Defense Forces, the company said.

Metrocall loses COO
Paging and wireless messaging service Metrocall said Wednesday that its chief operating officer, Steven "Jake" Jacoby, was killed on American Airlines Flight 77 bound from Washington to Los Angeles when it hit the Pentagon.

Jacoby, 43, had served as COO and executive vice president of Metrocall since 1994, when the company merged with FirstPage USA, where he had been COO, vice president and secretary since 1988. He was also one of the founders of FirstPage USA.

As Metrocall's COO, Jacoby was responsible for managing the company's sales, marketing, distribution, customer service and engineering areas, according to the company. He also initiated several strategic partnerships that complement Metrocall products and services, including those with AT&T Wireless, Motorola and Verizon.

"Taken from us yesterday morning was an outstanding father, a loving husband, an incredible and loyal friend, and a creative, dedicated steward of Metrocall," Bill Collins, Metrocall's president and chief executive, said in a statement.

Jacoby was en route to Los Angeles to participate in the Personal Communications Industry Association (PCIA) conference and exhibition. He is survived by his wife and three children.

MRV Communications, Netegrity lose CFOs
MRV Communications, a maker of network infrastructure systems, said Tuesday that its chief financial officer, Edmund Glazer, was killed when the jet he boarded crashed into the World Trade Center.

Glazer, 41, was on American Airlines flight 11.

"This is a very sad day for MRV and all who knew Edmund," Noam Lotan, MRV?s president and chief executive, said in a statement.

Netegrity, an e-business software management company, said its chief financial officer, James Hayden, 47, was among the passengers killed when United Flight 175 hit the World Trade Center. Netegrity said Hayden was instrumental in establishing and executing the financial plans of the company.

"I speak on behalf of the entire company in conveying our deepest sadness at the tragic loss of an incredible human being and friend," Barry Bycoff, CEO of Netegrity, said in a statement. "Our sympathies are with his family and friends during this very difficult time."

Netegrity said it has established a James Hayden Memorial Fund. Hayden is survived by his wife and two children.

Raytheon, eLogic, Sun, NextWave, BEA lose employees
Other victims who perished on the hijacked flights that crashed into the World Trade Center include four employees from Raytheon, a Lexington, Mass.-based defense and aircraft technology manufacturer.

The employees include: Peter Gay, 54, of Tewskbury, Mass., who served as a vice president of operations for Electronic Systems based in Andover, Mass; Stanley Hall, 68, of Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif., who acted as director of program management in Arlington, Va.; David Kovalcin, 42, of Hudson, N.H., who served as senior mechanical engineer for Electronic Systems in Tewksbury, Mass; and Kenneth Waldie, 46, of Methuen, Mass., a senior quality-control engineer for Electronic Systems based in Tewksbury, Mass.

"Our hearts go out to the families, friends and co-workers of those we have lost, and all who perished yesterday," Dan Burnham, Raytheon chief executive, said in a statement.

Raytheon said it is providing disaster relief services through a grant the company made to the American Red Cross earlier this year. The company has also established a special fund to provide gifts from Raytheon and its employees for disaster relief for all victims.

Two employees of application service provider eLogic, a subsidiary of Cahners Business Information, were onboard American Airlines flight 11, according to a message posted from Cahners Chief Executive Gerard van de Aast.

The employees were Jeff Mladenik, who served as vice president of e-development for the Cahners Manufacturing and Electronics Division and interim CEO of eLogic, and Andrew Curry Green, director of business development for eLogic. Cahners said a fund is being set up for the victims' families.

"Jeff and Andrew will be missed by all of us at Cahners," van de Aast wrote. "They were consummate professionals and close friends. Our thoughts, prayers and condolences are with their family and friends, as well as with their colleagues throughout Cahners."

Sun confirmed that one of its employees, Phil Rosenzweig, also was killed on American Airlines flight 11. Rosenzweig, 47, served as a director in Sun's software organization and had been with the company for about 10 years. The company said Rosenzweig worked in Burlington, Mass., and was en route to Los Angeles.

"This has been a tragic event for our country and has touched all of us at Sun," Scott McNealy, CEO of Sun, said in a statement. "Our prayers and thoughts are with Phil's family and loved ones."

Wireless carrier NextWave Telecom said that its consultant, Barbara Olson, perished on one of the hijacked flights. Olson, a partner at Balch and Bingham as well as a TV commentator, was the wife of U.S. Solicitor General Theodore Olson.

"Barbara was a person of intelligence, good humor and generous spirit who made you feel like an old friend from your very first meeting," Allen Salmasi, CEO of NextWave, said in a statement. "Our deepest condolences go out to Barbara's husband, Ted, to their families, and to the families of all of those who perished or were injured as a result of yesterday's tragic events."

E-commerce software company BEA Systems said one of its engineers, Ed Felt, perished onboard United flight 93. The San Jose, Calif.-based company said Felt had been a longtime employee and worked out of BEA's Liberty Corner, N.J., office. Felt is survived by his wife.

Vividence, former 3Com employees use cell phones
San Mateo, Calif.-based Vividence, whose software and services help companies evaluate customer satisfaction, said sales manager Jeremy Glick died aboard United flight 93, which crashed in a Pennsylvania field after what is thought to have been a struggle by passengers against the highjackers. Glick's cell phone conversations with his wife have been quoted in news reports piecing together that struggle.

Vividence has posted a memorial page for Glick, including information about a trust fund for his wife and 3-month-old daughter.

Glick, 31, previously was a sales representative for Giga Information Group.

Computer-networking equipment company 3Com said its former public relations manager Mark Bingham also perished in the United Airlines flight 93 crash. The company said Bingham worked for 3Com for two years and left the company a couple of years ago.

"Mark Bingham was a member of the 3Com family," said Brian Johnson, public relations director for 3Com. "Therefore, with a tremendous sense of loss and grief we heard the news regarding his death. He will be greatly missed. Our hearts go out to his family."

Bingham was one of the people who managed to call from his cell phone while on the plane. He phoned his mother, Alice Hoglan, in San Francisco, to tell her that he loved her.

News.com's Paul Festa, Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.