MEMORIAL UNVEILED TO HONOR 9/11 VICTIM
By STEPHANIE REITZ; Courant Staff Writer
AVON -- — After a year of mourning Amy Toyen's death, her hometown unveiled a poignant memorial this weekend to celebrate the richness of her life.
Toyen, 24, who was killed in last year's terrorist attacks, was remembered in a ceremony Saturday at the Avon Free Public Library, where a life-size bronze statue of her was dedicated.
The statue portrays her as a child. She is sitting cross-legged on a marble bench, wearing pigtails and a daisy-print dress that was one of her favorites when she was about 4 years old. One hand is cradling a teddy bear, while the other is holding a book open on her lap.
Toyen's family and friends said they want to celebrate the trusting, caring way in which she lived her life, rather than the heartbreakingly random way she died.
The statue's simple theme of innocence honors not only Toyen, but also the nearly 3,000 others killed on Sept. 11, 2001.
The likeness was so uncanny that several of Toyen's co-workers, former schoolmates and friends wiped away tears as they stroked the statue's smooth head.
"It really captures Amy. She was so innocent and pure, and I really see that in this memorial," said friend Linda Bean of Boston, one of Toyen's closest friends and co-workers at Thomson Financial Services.
More than 100 people attended the ceremony.
Toyen, a 1995 Avon High graduate, was a marketing coordinator for Thomson when she was killed along with 11 co-workers.
She had flown from her home in Newton, Mass., to New York City early on the morning of Sept. 11 to set up her company's display at a trade show in the World Trade Center's north tower.
Toyen, who was on the 106th floor, tried to call her fiance from her cellular phone shortly after the building was struck by one of the hijacked airliners. But although he could see her number on his caller ID, he could hear only crackling on the line.
Members of the Avon High School student government, led by President Jennie O'Brien, were so moved by Toyen's death that they raised almost $20,000 for the creation and upkeep of the memorial.
Her parents, Martin and Dorine Toyen, selected the library's grassy front driveway circle as the statue's permanent location because the library was always one of Amy's favorite places.
Canton artist Marilyn Thrall created the statue by working from pictures and descriptions provided by Toyen's family.
"As a mother, it was heartbreaking for me to do this sculpture, but it means so much to me to have been able to do it for you," she told the Toyens, choking up as they prepared to pull the silky white cord that would unveil the covered statue.
A murmur of admiration swept the crowd as it was uncovered, as Martin Toyen gave it a gentle, paternal pat on the head and Dorine Toyen returned to the crowd to put her arm around older daughter Heather's shoulders.
The Toyens are well-known in Avon. Martin Toyen is on the town's school board, while Dorine Toyen teaches at nearby Renbrook School in West Hartford. Amy and Heather Toyen also had maintained close bonds with many teachers and friends throughout Avon even after graduating from high school.
"They're an incredible family," said Avon resident and teacher Jan Brennan, who came with her 9-year-old daughter Kelly to the ceremony.
The Toyens kept their televisions and radios off for much of last week rather than risk seeing replays of the attack in which they lost their youngest daughter.
"We are trying to heal and know that the thoughts and prayers we continue to receive will help us," Dorine Toyen said.