Stephanie McKenna was born in the Bronx on July 25, 1956, and her family moved to Staten Island when she was six years old. From a very early age, Stephanie was an avid reader of science fiction. Not one to follow the crowd, she always had unique interests such as a love for Star Trek. While most other girls her age were playing with Barbie dolls, she was a die-hard “Trekkie.” She also enjoyed dance and theater, performing in many school plays and dance recitals in her youth. Stephanie was a graduate of New Dorp High School and later attended the College of Staten Island. She set out to be a career woman, making the daily commute to the Big Apple and looking to conquer the accounting world. Much like her mother, Agnes, Stephanie was incredibly strong-willed and a force to be reckoned with. Her determination knew no limits, as she attained goal after goal and achieved everything she set out to. In 1990, she had a son, Brian, and he immediately became her world. She raised him as a single mother (with help from her parents and sister), and he was her pride and joy. Every mother-son relationship is special in its own way, but Stephanie and Brian were especially close. She adopted her son’s love for basketball, so much so that when she wasn’t watching him play, she would watch games on TV with him or buy tickets to Knicks games so they could go together. However, nothing could compare to the love they shared for Disney World. The McKenna family went on numerous trips there, and when the rest of the family couldn’t go, Stephanie would make sure that she and Brian got there, just the two of them. She would eventually begin working in the accounting department at Marsh McLennan. This job was quite literally taking her to new heights, as she would be working on the 94th floor of Tower 1 at the World Trade Center. Tragically, though, and like so many others, Stephanie lost her life during the September 11th terrorist attacks. The McKenna Foundation serves to keep her legacy and memory alive for those who were lucky enough to know her, and for the younger generation who sadly were not. Gone, but never forgotten.

Eugene McKenna was born in Englewood, New Jersey on May 24, 1930. His family moved to the Bronx when he was a child, which was where would spend most of his young life. He was the eldest child and had three sisters: Ann, Joyce, and Joan. One of his proudest and most defining accomplishments were his years of service in the U.S. Army. Eugene was a photographer and veteran of the Korean War, having served there from 1951 to 1953. In 1955, not long after returning home from Korea, he married Agnes, the love of his life, and they would go on to have two daughters: Stephanie and Patricia. The couple decided to move their young family to Staten Island in 1962, and they settled in South Beach. Over the years, Eugene worked as a manager at various retail stores across Staten Island and New Jersey, including Masters Department Store in Grant City and Majors on Forest Ave. He was a dedicated and hard worker who did not retire until the age of 77. After retirement, he made friends and found new purpose by becoming a member of the Arrochar Friendship Club at Holy Rosary in South Beach. Eugene will always be remembered as a soft-spoken, loving, family man and proud patriot. His kindness was infectious and he left a mark on everyone he encountered. He was also an avid reader, rarely seen without a book or, later, an e-reader in his hands. Some of his other hobbies included photography (a skill he never lost after Korea), watching movies (especially old western films), and, above all else, spending time with his family. He accomplished so much in his wonderful 91 years, but nothing made him prouder than being a caring husband, father, and grandfather; Eugene was even lucky enough to see himself become a great grandfather.

Agnes McPherson was born in the Bronx on April 26, 1931, after her parents had emigrated to America from Scotland. As a young girl, she loved visiting her family in Scotland and tending to the horses on their farm. Later in life, she worked as a secretary in a legal office. She would soon go on to meet and fall in love with Eugene, and the two were married in 1955. Together they would have two daughters: Stephanie and Patricia. In 1962, the family moved to Staten Island and settled in South Beach. Agnes loved being a mother and ran her household like a well-oiled machine. In an era when most women were not expected to work outside of the home, she opted to return to the workforce, taking up jobs in retail to help her family afford summer vacations. This was just one of the many ways in which she was ahead of her time. Agnes was loving, caring and selfless, but also very strong-willed and a force to be reckoned with. Family was everything for her, and she played a large role in helping raise her two grandsons: Brian and Shawn. In her later years, she became a staple behind the receptionist’s desk at Mrs. Rosemary’s Dance Studio in New Dorp. Agnes was truly a one-of-a-kind woman and left an impression on everyone she met.