MANCHESTER — Although the body of Central High School graduate Katherine Bantis was lost in the ashes of the World Trade Center 11 years ago, her memory will live in the hallways of her alma mater.

A plaque honoring Bantis is scheduled to be unveiled at the school today during assemblies commemorating the terrorist attack of Sept. 11, 2001.

The plaque features an image of a high-school-aged Bantis and lower Manhattan before the collapse of the World Trade Center. Members of the class of 1975 raised money for the plaque on behalf of their lost classmate.

Bantis emigrated from Greece at age 11, learned English in Manchester, graduated from Central and worked as a senior vice president at the global consulting firm Marsh & McLennan.

She also founded a school for the disabled in her home village of Kozani in northern Greece. Bantis, whose office was in midtown Manhattan, was attending a meeting in the north tower of the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001.

“This is a recognition of the strength of this country, that we are a nation of immigrants,” said Paul DiIulio, the 1975 class president, who will give remarks during the assembly.

“She went from Macedonia to Manhattan. The opportunities in this country allowed her to make it to the 99th floor of the World Trade Center.”

Several family members are expected to attend the event, including cousins Perry Bantis, a fellow 1975 Central graduate; Pam Sapienza of Manchester and Melanie Bantis of Virginia.

Also expected to be on hand is an uncle, Harry, from New York, and her aunt, Katherine Bantis, who lives in Manchester.

“We’re just overwhelmed by the love and generosity of the people to honor her memory,” her aunt said.

Her father died in Greece this past April, and her mother is too old to travel, DiIulio said. DiIulio said he
started raising money for the plaque after his daughter, Central High student Laura DiIulio, wrote about Bantis for the Little Green, the school newspaper.

He also started a Facebook page in her memory, and donations started arriving through the mail.

He said contributions amounted to $11,000.

Because Bantis was so close to the point of impact that September day, her remains were never recovered, so there is no headstone or urn to remember her by.

Now, she will be remembered in her high school.

“Nobody can walk by that plaque and not have it catch their eye,” he said.

mhayward@unionleader.com