Laura Finamore, 47, was an executive at the real estate firm Cushman & Wakefield. She lived in Manhattan and was on her way home from Washington when the train derailed.

Born and raised in the Queens neighborhood of Douglaston, Ms. Finamore was a graduate of Benjamin Cardozo High School and The George Washington University, where she majored in literature.

She worked for 20 years in corporate real estate. She was known as a tenacious dealmaker, her family said, and as a devoted aunt to her seven nieces and nephews. “Laura’s smile could light up a room, and her infectious laughter will be remembered by many for years to come,” her family said. “She was always there when you needed her – with a hug, encouraging words or a pat on the back.”