His was a life filled with generosity, love and laughter.

Eric Adam Stahlman, 43, was at his desk on the 105th floor of the World Trade Center on the morning of September 11, 2001, when the terrorist attack forever changed the face of New York and the lives of so many. A highly valued employee of Cantor and Fitzgerald since June 2001, he was known among friends and coworkers as a man who helped all people in trouble, financially or morally. Those who attended his memorial service at Temple BethEL in Patchogue laughed through their tears as friends and family spoke of his kindness, his goodness, his sense of humor and his love of life.

Born in Patchogue, Eric Stahlman attended elementary and middle school in Patchogue, graduating from Patchogue-Medford High School in June of 1976. He then attended Brockport College in upstate New York. After two years, he left Brockport and got a job working on the Patchogue River at Hoppe's Marina. In the fall of 1978, Eric traveled to Bogotá, Columbia as a houseguest of Dr. Hoyos and his family. The Stahlman family earlier had hosted six of the Hoyos children in a Lions exchange program. Eric stayed in Columbia for two years, immersed in its culture and emerging bilingual.

Upon his return to the United States, Eric moved to Astoria, Queens and attended Baruch College in Manhattan. His bilingual expertise earned him a daytime job with an import/export firm, while he pursued his studies at night. Upon graduation, Eric was hired by Credit Swiss, a large investment and trading bank in the New York Financial District. In the following years, he worked for five different banks as a trader, mainly selling money to banks.

Eric and his wife Blanca, who was born in Ecuador, shared nine years together. They lived in Holmdel, New Jersey with their children, Allison, age 7, and Jacob, age 5. Eric retained his love for Patchogue and Fire Island and his roots in Patchogue's community.