Residents mourn loss of Andy Garcia Residents mourn loss of Andy Garcia (September 19, 2001)

By Andrea Gemmet

Almanac Staff Writer

At twilight on Friday evening, while the nation reflected on the lives lost in last week's terrorist attack, friends and relatives gathered in front of the home that Portola Valley resident Andy Garcia shared with his wife Dorothy to remember the energetic and upbeat man.

With bowed heads and bright candles, close to 200 people prayed and shared thoughts at a candlelight service for the man they called a hero, the man they were sure would have helped try to take back control of the airplane and prevent it from killing people on the ground.

Mr. Garcia, 62, died September 11 with the rest of the passengers aboard United Flight 93 from Newark, New Jersey, to San Francisco, which crashed in Pennsylvania after hijackers commandeered the plane.

The self-employed owner of an industrial parts and distribution company, Mr. Garcia was headed home from a business trip, said his brother-in-law, Tom von Berg.

He left behind Dorothy, his wife of 32 years; his three children: Kelly, Audrey and Andrew; and his granddaughter Madisen Renee. His daughter Audrey is pregnant and expecting to give birth to Mr. Garcia's first grandson at any time. Son-in-law Foster Olive announced at the candlelight service that his son would be named in honor of Andy, his grandfather.

Although they are not sure, the family thinks that a brief, staticky phone call that swiftly disconnected may have been Mr. Garcia trying to call from the plane, Mr. von Berg said.

Last month Mr. and Mrs. Garcia celebrated both his 62nd birthday and their 32nd wedding anniversary, said Mrs. Garcia.

He was an avid tennis player and a member of the Ladera Oaks Swim and Tennis Club, who loved the beach and Frank Sinatra, she said. Mr. Garcia was very active with both his family and his church, she said, and for the past 10 years, she and her husband worked together from their home.

"He was the most loving, caring, gentle, giving and honest man. He was just a fabulous human being," Mrs. Garcia said. "And I think it is important to know that he tried to honor God in everything he did."

The Garcias have lived near Ormondale School for more than 20 years, and the role that Mr. Garcia played in the community was evident last week as friends and neighbors poured into the house to offer condolences and support.

The community assembled once again on Friday evening for the candlelight prayer service conducted by the Rev. Frank VanderZwan of Menlo Park Presbyterian Church, which the Garcias have been members of for about 14 years. The Rev. VanderZwan led the assembled crowd in prayer and asked people to share thoughts and stories about Mr. Garcia.

"It can be frustrating not knowing what to say, because there's so much, so much on our minds and in our hearts," he said. "We stand together with the whole nation today."

Mr. Garcia's mother-in-law, Ruth von Berg, remembered the day her daughter, who was working as an engineering secretary for United Airlines at the time, came home very excited and told her mother, "I saw the man today that I am going to marry." When she asked what the man's name was, Dorothy replied, "I don't know. I didn't get to meet him."

That man, of course, was Andy, who worked as a purchasing agent for United Airlines, and Mrs. von Berg paid tribute to the "wonderful love" that Dorothy and Andy shared.

A dozen more people spoke, mentioning Mr. Garcia's "ever-present smile" and his devotion to his family, and offered their love and support to the people he left behind.

"Andy, you were our friend and our hero," said Don Coluzzi, a friend and neighbor. "Thank you for touching our lives."

"He was a vital man who just exuded energy," said Carrie Drake, another friend and neighbor who said she often saw the Garcias when they were walking their dog. "If it is ever proven that the passengers banded together (to thwart hijackers), we all know that Andy was part of it. We know he was a hero."

A memorial service for Mr. Garcia is planned for Monday, September 24, at 2 p.m. at Menlo Park Presbyterian Church, located at 950 Santa Cruz Ave.