Robert Deraney ’80

Robert Deraney was born on Apr. 20, 1958. He was killed Sept. 11, 2001, during the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center. Bob was attending a breakfast meeting at Windows on the World restaurant.

Bob's untimely death deprives our community of a living expression of the kind of cultural understanding and open-mindedness that is so sorely needed to bring peace to the Middle East. Bob, a Lebanese American, was a Near Eastern studies major, and taught after graduation at Lebanon Intl. College in Beirut with Princeton-in-Asia. Terry Wrong '80, who was posted in Beirut with Bob, recalls, "In a region where everybody has an opinion and usually a closed mind to go with it, he was gentle, reasonable, and open to the views of others."

Deraney, a graduate of Wharton Business School, worked as a financial consultant and Internet specialist in NYC prior to his death. Bob will be remembered as a deeply caring friend and devoted son and brother.

Bob was an avid student of Arabic poetry and an accomplished ballet dancer and theatrical performer on campus. He will be deeply missed by those whose lives were touched by his humor and generosity.

The Class of 1980