Casey Spor suffered a loss on Sept. 11, 2001. Her father, Joe Spor, was a firefighter with the Rescue 3 unit of the New York Fire Department who died during the terrorist attacks.

When Spor, a junior exercise science major, turned 18 she decided to remember her father by tattooing his signature on the top of her left wrist.

“My dad was a quiet guy with a huge heart, but he always lit up the room with his smile,” Spor said. “He loved to work out so they called him ‘pillow arms’ at the firehouse.”

Her father’s signature has large, looping capital letters starting off his first, middle and last names, and small, tight cursive letters following. The signature was taken from her father’s passport by the tattoo artist and recreated on her wrist in black ink.

“I always wanted to have a piece of him wherever I went so I decided to get a tattoo,” Spor said, adding that she thought the tattoo was a beautiful way for her to honor his memory.

She had her mind set on getting a tattoo since she was 16 years old, but it wasn’t until her birthday two years later that she got the design. The day also happened to be Father’s Day, which Spor said showed her that her father was supporting her decision.

Spor’s tattoo did not come as a surprise to her family, she said.

“Both my younger sisters want to get the tattoo when they turn 18 as well,” Spor said.

While her sisters are planning to get the same design as her, Spor’s mother and younger brother have different tattoos to memorialize their husband and father, respectively. Her mother has her husband’s badge on her calf and her brother has the twin towers tattooed on his left shoulder blade.

The tattoos connect her family with their father, as well as with each other, Spor said.

“It’s nice to have a piece of my dad with me wherever I go, and tell his story to others who ask about my tattoo and carry on his legacy,” Spor said.

Published on January 19, 2016 at 12:01 am

Contact: lmeyers@syr.edu