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Nicholas Brandemarti: A Believer in Teamwork

 

The sound of swooning is often heard around college football players. Nicholas Brandemarti was no exception. But the fullback from West Deptford, N.J., who graduated from Fordham University last May, did not abuse the privilege. "On campus, he was known for his genuine respect and reverence for young women," said Sister Anne Walsh, the team's academic adviser, who said he always greeted them with the gallant phrase, "And there she is."

The Fordham coach, David Clawson, called him " In his senior year, concussions forced him to stop playing. He was devastated. Coach Clawson made him a student coach, and the former fullback started up that day. "His teammates were so important that the idea of not being around those guys &emdash; he couldn't do it," the coach said. The staff accepted him, the players respected him, and "nobody blinked."

Mr. Brandemarti's mother, Nancy, recalled how her son would have an idea and just do it. He earned a scuba certificate and went mountain climbing for the first time last summer in Maine. She recalled how happy he was to get just the kind of job he wanted, as an analyst at Keefe, Bruyette & Woods. There he could survey the world from the 89th floor of 2 World Trade Center. "He was living the beginning of his dream," Mrs. Brandemarti said.

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From "Profiles in Grief" of The New York Times