Tom Burnett
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Plaque beneath flag dedicated to Tom Burnett |
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Tom Burnett memorial flag in Bloomington, MN |
Thomas Edward Burnett (
May 29,
1963 -
September 11,
2001), was the vice president and
COO of a
Pleasanton, California, medical devices company,
Thoratec Corporation. He graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School in
Bloomington,
Minnesota in 1981 after leading the football team to the state semi-finals as their starting quarterback. His football jersey, # 10, is now retired at his former high school. Tom studied economics at
St. John's University in Minnesota. After two years, an injury shortened his football career and he transferred to the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota. He was named President of the Alpha Kappa Psi Fraternity, then later graduated with a B.S. degree in Finance.
He died at age thirty eight in the
September 11, 2001 attacks on board
United Airlines flight 93. He was able to call with his cellphone his wife four times after the hijackers took control of the plane.
Tom and other passengers had been in communication with people via cell phones and learned that the
World Trade Center had been hit using hijacked airplanes. Tom was among the passengers who decided to fight the hijackers hand-to-hand.Tom called his wife, Deena, and reportedly told her, "We're all going to die, but three of us are going to do something" and added: "I love you, honey" before the call ended. He is survived by his wife and three young daughters.
See also
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September 11, 2001 Terrorist Attack,
Tributes and Comments.
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Tom Burnett Family Foundation.
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Thoratec announcement of memorial fund.
