20 Years Later and Always, the Michigan Ross Community Remembers Those Alums Who Lost Their Lives on 9/11
In memory of the Ross School of Business alumni who died 20 years ago in the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, Michigan Ross is honoring those individuals and the contributions they made to business and society.
The Michigan Ross alumni whose lives will never be forgotten are: David Alger, MBA ’68, president, Fred Alger Management, World Trade Center; Scott Weingard, BA ’93, equities manager, Cantor Fitzgerald, WTC; Meredith Whalen, BA ’00, research analyst, Fred Alger Management Inc., WTC; and Mark Zeplin BA ’90/ MBA '93, vice president, Cantor Fitzgerald, WTC.
The University of Michigan Alumni Association recently published their names and stories, along with the other 14 U-M alumni who also lost their lives that day. The profiles of the Michigan Ross alumni are reshared below.
Sharing the stories of Michigan Ross alumni who died on 9/11
David D. Alger, MBA ’68
As executive vice president and chief financial officer of Fred Alger Management, David Alger operated from the 93rd floor of the World Trade Center’s north tower.
He was the business school’s 1997 commencement speaker, chaired its annual fund, and was a member of its Visiting Committee. His service to the larger university included membership on the U-M Investment Advisory Committee. Before attending U-M, he earned his undergraduate degree in history at Harvard.
Mr. Alger often appeared on television shows to discuss Wall Street investments and was known for training analysts in rigorous research methods. He wrote Raging Bull: How to Invest in the Growth Stocks of the 90s and joined the firm of his brother, Frederick, in 1972.
In 2001, the business school recognized him with its Alumni Achievement Award, now named in his honor.
Scott Weingard, BA ’93
Following his graduation from U-M, Mr. Weingard headed to New York City, where he joined Hypnotic Hats, a company his brother and friends had created. He did well at the company, which made baseball caps, and quickly became operations manager for the firm. He left about one year before Sept. 11 for Cantor Fitzgerald in the World Trade Center, where he became involved in equities trading.
Although living in New York, he returned each year to Ann Arbor for football games, enjoyed two Rose Bowl games in California, and kept up many friendships from his U-M days. Among those friends were Laurence Polatsch and Gregory Richards, both of whom also died on Sept. 11. A fund in their names, the GLS Memorial Fund, awards scholarships to U-M students in need of financial assistance.
Meredith L. Whalen, BA ’00
A research analyst for Fred Alger Management since June 2000, Meredith Whalen worked on the 93rd floor of the World Trade Center.
While studying at the business school, she served as a peer career counselor during her second year. She regularly counseled students interested in the investment field. Her boss and fellow U-M alum, David Alger, who also died on Sept. 11, had described her as a “rising star who rarely left work at five.”
The Meredith L. Whalen Memorial Scholarship Fund and the Meredith L. Whalen Memorial Endowment Fund, both at the university, were created in her memory.
Marc Scott Zeplin, BA ’90/ MBA ’93
Marc Zeplin worked for Cantor Fitzgerald, starting as an equities trader and rising to the position of vice president. On Sept. 11, he worked on the 104th floor of the north tower of the World Trade Center.
Mr. Zeplin majored in political science as an undergraduate and was in the Pilot Program at Alice Lloyd Hall. An enthusiastic sports fan, he enjoyed broadcasting games on the university’s radio station while a student.
He was survived by his wife, two young sons, his parents, and his sister. His family established the Marc S. Zeplin Foundation in 2002 to support children who lost a parent or loved one on Sept. 11.
Michigan Ross Armed Forces Association remembers a Ross alum killed in action
The Armed Forces Association at Michigan Ross will host a Sept. 11 remembrance event. Before the Michigan football game this Saturday, AFA will honor Jason George, MBA ‘04, a U.S. Army officer who was killed during combat operations in Iraq in May 2009. AFA will be raising money for the Jason George Foundation during the event.
“The 20th anniversary of the 9/11 tragedy holds significant weight for our entire veteran community, as our generation of servicemembers chose to enter the military because of this event,” said AFA member and U.S. Navy veteran Jake Laird, MBA ‘22. “In remembrance of those we lost on and after that day, we strive to celebrate the courage of our fallen and honor their sacrifice.”
