[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 110 (Wednesday, September 4, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Page S8196]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     LAUREN GRANDCOLAS: IN MEMORIAM

  Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I would like to take this opportunity to 
share with the Senate the memory of one of my constituents, Lauren 
Grandcolas, of San Rafael, CA, who lost her life on September 11, 2001. 
Mrs. Grandcolas was a 38-year-old advertising sales consultant when the 
flight she was on, United Airlines Flight 93, was hijacked by 
terrorists. As we all know, that plane crashed in a Pennsylvania field, 
killing everyone on board.
  Mrs. Grandcolas was born in Bloomington, IN and attended the 
University of Texas at Austin, where she met her husband, Jack 
Grandcolas. After graduation, she worked as a Marketing Director for a 
law firm and then for Price, Waterhouse, Coopers. At the time of her 
tragic death, Mrs. Grandcolas was working as an advertising sales 
consultant at Good Housekeeping Magazine and was researching and 
writing a non-fiction book to help women boost their self-esteem.
  Lauren had enthusiasm and passion for life, loved the outdoors and 
was devoted to physical fitness. She hiked, jogged, kayaked, and 
enjoyed in-line skating around her neighborhood. Her energy was 
boundless and she took classes in cooking, gardening, scuba-diving and 
wine appreciation. Lauren was also active with United Way, March of 
Dimes, Project Open Hand, Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, Breast Cancer 
Awareness and Glide Memorial.
  Her husband Jack recalls she had a heart the size of Texas. Knowing 
her flight had been hijacked, Lauren left her husband a message on 
their home answering machine and then loaned her cell phone to another 
passenger to call loved ones.
  The joy Lauren felt pursuing new interests and developing new skills 
was being interwoven in the book she was writing for women. Jack 
recalls, ``She made a point to do things that were good for her, and 
she thought she could extend what she'd learned to help other adult 
women gain confidence. Her sister and I will fulfill her dream by 
completing the book.''
  None of us is untouched by the terror of September 11th, and many 
Californians were part of each tragic moment of that tragic day. Some 
were trapped in the World Trade Center towers. Some were at work in the 
Pentagon. And the fates of some were sealed as they boarded planes 
bound for San Francisco or Los Angeles.
  I offer today this tribute to one of the 51 Californians who perished 
on that awful morning. I want to assure the family of Lauren 
Grandcolas, and the families of all the victims, that their fathers and 
mothers, sons and daughters, aunts, uncles, brothers and sisters will 
not be forgotten.

                          ____________________