A friend and family members of a Clarks Summit native who died in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks have plans for a new location for the clocktower and plaque dedicated to her.
At a borough council meeting last week, Mike Parry talked about the idea to move the clock tower and plaque in memory of Laura Lee DeFazio Morabito less than a mile from its current location at the convergence of State and Depot streets to the Finish Shop Pocket Park on Depot Street.
The renderings include a concrete base with the clock tower sitting on top of it and the plaque facing the street.
Parry said he and his wife came up with the idea, along with Morabito’s brothers, Craig and Jeff DeFazio, and their spouses earlier this month. His daughter, Leia Parry created the renderings, which council received last week.
He said putting it there would work because it is borough property. Parry said Northeast Rigging agreed to dismantle and move the clock tower and the plaque, while Mike Murphy, who owns Red Line Towing, will re-paint and fabricate the clock tower at discounted rates. The clock hands will be re-positioned to mark the time the four planes hit the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and a field outside Shanksville, the frame painted black and pavers will be placed around it that the community can sponsor. Parry also hopes they can replace the chain-link fence around the park and move a Little Free Library at the entrance to one side of the fence facing Depot Street.
He said he will work with group of gardeners from The Gathering Place who maintain the lot to do the landscaping.
“We’re gonna make sure that whatever plan…is conducive to make the park more inclusive to people and not trying to stop any usage or ruin any usage currently from what’s going on in there,” he said.
Parry said Craig and Jeff DeFazio have each donated $5,000 to get the project started. They also plans to set up a site online the public can donate to the project. A cost for the project hasn’t been determined.
A view through the gazebo at Finish Shop Pocket Park on Depot St. in Clarks Summit Friday, March 27, 2026. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
A rendering shows the clock tower and plaque dedicated to Laura Lee DeFazio Morabito in Finish Shop Pocket Park. (Submitted)
A map shows the Finish Shop Pocket Park and the current location of the clock tower and plaque dedicated to Laura Lee DeFazio Morabito. Mike Parry presented plans to move the tower and the plaque to the park. (Submitted)
A memorial plaque for Clarks Summit native Laura Lee DeFazio Morabito who died in the 9/11 attacks stands at the base of the clock tower in Clarks Summit Friday, March 6, 2026. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Vehicles pass the clock tower on State Street in Clarks Summit Thursday, February 12, 2026. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Show Caption
1 of 5
A view through the gazebo at Finish Shop Pocket Park on Depot St. in Clarks Summit Friday, March 27, 2026. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Parry doesn’t want the park re-named in honor of Morabito because it is already named in honor of a business that previously operated at the site run by the Maria family, and it is something her family members said she wouldn’t want as she was a humble and modest person. He said the Maria family, who donated the lot to the borough in 2014, is open to the idea and the Rotary Club of the Abingtons, which erected the clock and donated it to the borough in 1986, also gave its blessing to the project. Parry said Morabito’s father, Larry DeFazio, is aware of the proposed project.
Parry hopes to add a plaque honoring the Marias at the park.
Borough officials decided to take down the clock tower because of its age and after determining it can’t be repaired because it is located on private property. Officials plan to move the plaque to another location in the borough and have discussed Veterans’ Memorial Park at State Street and Clark Avenue as an option.
Although Morabito’s family and friends expressed hope for the plaque to be in a prominent location in the borough, Parry said the park works because it is located behind State Street Grill, which had been DeFazio’s Summit Inn, which Morabito’s parents, Larry and Beverly DeFazio ran.
“If we get it in at this location, then it’ll be preserved there way past our lifetimes, and it’ll outlive us all,” Parry said.
He said the proposed project honors the events of Sept. 11, 2001.
Borough Manager Jennifer Basalyga said this week she believes the council will review any suggestion from the DeFazio brothers. She anticipates council will discuss the clock tower at their next meeting on Wednesday.
“They’re coming up with some ideas and the ideas are changing as we keep moving on,” Basalyga said. “Once there is some kind of plan, it’s going to go through council first.”
Council members have not voted on anything related to the clock tower or the plaque.
Parry said he plans to move forward with the project regardless of what happens between the borough and Jack Decker, who owns the property the clock tower and plaque are on, and is open to suggestions. He wants to make sure everyone is on board with the idea and the community supports it.
“We are open to suggestions and ideas and of course, donations and help,” Parry said.