James Gadiel: Soothing Came
Easy
Tragedy
-- the death of his mother when he was 12 -- was not what
made James Gadiel, 23, an assistant trader at Cantor
Fitzgerald, so sensitive to others.
He just seems to have always been that way.
When he was seven and, at the time, the largest boy in
the class, Jamie Gadiel would pal around with the
smallest boy in the class.
One day, the short kid slugged his big, best friend.
The slugger's mother explained that it was the first time
her son had ever felt emboldened to hit someone. And her
son knew that Jamie was a safe target, because Jamie
would never dream of hitting someone smaller than he.
Mr. Gadiel was the solicitous middle child, soothing
his siblings. When his father, Peter, remarried, the boy
bonded eagerly with his new siblings and their mother,
Jan.
Although Mr. Gadiel came across as subdued, when he
was with friends -- male and female alike -- he unleashed
a dry, rip- snorting humor and a stubborn delight in
debate.
He was politically conservative. His best buddy, Matt
Schullery, is anything but. Genial Mr. Gadiel didn't
mind.
He believed most differences could be set aside during
a Saturday afternoon, watching a game together, hot dog
in one hand, beer in the other.
.
