Tom 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 after leading the football team to the state semi-finals as their starting quarterback. Tom studied economics at St. John's University in Minnesota.

He died at age 38 in the September 11, 2001 Terrorist Attack on board United Airlines flight 93. He was able to call 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 destroyed using hijacked airplanes. Tom was among the passengers that evidently decided to fight the hijackers hand-to-hand. Tom called his wife, Deena, and reportedly said "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 daughers.

See September 11, 2001 Terrorist Attack/Casualties,Tributes and Comments

External links

• Tom Burnett found news of first plane crash 'interesting'
  
• Thoratec announcement of memorial fund