Megan Moroney Lost Her Uncle, Dennis, On 9/11
Dennis Gerard Moroney, the uncle of country artist Megan Moroney, was one of the 2,977 people killed during the 9/11 attacks. Megan, who was only three years old at the time, would later write and record a song in her uncle’s memory.
39-year-old Dennis was from Eastchester, New York. He worked at the World Trade Center as the senior vice president of Cantor Fitzgerald, a financial services firm.
In a tribute to Dennis on the Cantor Families Memorial website, his wife, Nancy, wrote:
“Charming, funny, adorable and sweet. These are just a few of the words that describe Dennis, the love of my life since I was 17 years old. I was privileged to have been his wife for 16 wonderful years. Dennis was an incredibly loving father to our two children, Elizabeth, age 11, and Timothy, age 9. He was a family man if ever there was one.“
Nancy added, “We should have celebrated Dennis’ 40th birthday this November – an event we planned for all summer- but instead of celebrating, we are crying because we miss him so terribly. Dennis built a wonderful life for us. He filled our days with laughter and happiness. How unfair it is that he will not be here with us to enjoy what he worked so hard to build.”
Megan Moroney Wrote “Heaven By Noon” After Thinking About Her Uncle Dennis And Aunt Nancy
Years later, when reflecting on 9/11 and the loss of her Uncle Dennis, Megan Moroney wrote a song. She told Kelleigh Bannen of Today’s Country Radio that she tried to put herself in her Aunt Nancy’s shoes.
“A lot of people don’t know this, but my uncle died on 9/11, so I thought about my aunt when I was writing that song because the last thing they talked about was an oil change. And that’s probably not what she would’ve wanted to say to him if she knew it was going to be the last time.”
The song Megan wrote was “Heaven by Noon.” She included the emotional track on her 2024 album, Am I Okay? Some of the lyrics are:
“I know where you’re at / And there ain’t no time at all / No heartbreak / No more pain / Just streets of gold you get to walk / When I talked to you this mornin’ / I said, ‘I’ll see you soon’ / Would have said so much more if I only knew / That you’d be in Heaven by noon.”
Listen to “Heaven by Noon” below.
In 2025, on the 24th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, Moroney shared a tribute to her Uncle Dennis. She posted a photo of his name inscribed on the 9/11 Memorial in New York City.
Dennis’ name can be located on the 47th panel along the Memorial’s north pool.
Our hearts go out to the Moroney family and to all who lost loved ones on 9/11. They will never be forgotten.
