Name of a victim of the Sept. 11 attacks accidentally left off a memorial

The name of a victim of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks was accidentally left off a memorial and will be added.

Photo: Name of a victim of the Sept. 11 attacks accidentally left off a memorial

Name of a victim of the Sept. 11 attacks accidentally left off a memorial

The memorial, a sculpture called "The Rising," has 109 intertwining steel rods to symbolize each local resident killed in the terrorist attacks. But after the memorial was dedicated in September 2005, the family of a 110th person, Michael Packer, approached county officials to say he should have been included, The Journal News reported Monday.

Packer, who led Merrill Lynch's e-commerce initiatives, was speaking at a conference at the World Trade Center when it was attacked. He was 45 and had lived in the Westchester community of Hartsdale since 1990, said his wife, Rekha Packer.

County officials had been unaware that Michael Packer was a Westchester resident, said Susan Tolchin, chief adviser to County Executive Andrew Spano.

"We felt terrible," Tolchin said.

Some lists said Michael Packer lived in New York City, but articles in several newspapers identified him as a Hartsdale resident.

"It's a mystery to me to this day why he was not included," said Rekha Packer. "I really don't feel anyone's to blame. It's just unfortunate."

Rather than change the sculpture's design by adding a steel rod in Michael Packer's honor, the county plans to recognize him by adding to the granite stones at its base, Tolchin said. Each stone bears a victim's name, and many also include words of remembrance.

Rekha Packer said she was "quite satisfied" with that solution.