Wheaton mother remembers 9/11 victim Mark Schurmeier for his 'upbeat, positive look on life'

Susan Schurmeier of Wheaton remembers her only son, Mark, as someone who "really always kind of carried an upbeat, positive look on life."

The 44-year-old husband and father was on the 106th floor of the World Trade Center's north tower on Sept. 11, 2001. Mark Schurmeier, a director of strategic re-engineering, funding and investments for Freddie Mac, had flown in early that morning from his home in Virginia to attend a conference.

"I think he had just arrived at the building when it was hit," Susan said. "Mark didn't call anybody, but a friend of his was with him and the friend called somebody and they called us."

At the time, Susan and her husband, Jerry, were vacationing on the Pacific island of Borneo.

"It was a difficult and crazy time," Susan Schurmeier said.

Mark Schurmeier graduated from Wheaton North High School in 1975 and then attended Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. A scholarship called "The Mark Schurmeier 9/11 Peace Fund" was set up at his alma mater to assist undergraduates, with a preference given to students directly affected by the terrorist attacks of 9/11 or other victims of political, social or religious terrorism.

The Schurmeiers are in their 80s and living in a Wheaton retirement home. They do not have any set plans to attend any 9/11 ceremonies this year, though Susan said she will likely telephone Mark's widow, Ayako, and his son, Mason.

"It's difficult every year," said Susan Schurmeier. "It's just a day we kind of live through."