By Leslie Brody And Joe Jackson 

The families of a 20-year-old midshipman at the U.S. Naval Academy, an Associated Press employee and a technology executive were mourning Wednesday after an Amtrak derailment in Philadelphia Tuesday night that left at least seven people dead.

A Wells Fargo executive was also confirmed dead, the AP reported, and the relatives of a missing Baltimore-area man whose cellphone was found on the train tracks were waiting anxiously for information.

Justin Zemser, of New York City, was on his way home from his second year at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md. His mother, Susan, said she was waiting for him to arrive Tuesday night when she saw news of the crash on television. She kept calling hospitals in vain for information, but got a phone call in the morning confirming his death.

"He was a loving son, nephew and cousin, who was very community-minded," she told reporters in front of the family's apartment building in Rockaway Beach, Queens. "This tragedy has shocked us all in the worst way."

"He was absolutely wonderful," she said, teary. "Everybody looked up to my son."

Mr. Zemser was well known at Channel View School for Research, where he was high school valedictorian, captain of the football team and a vice president of student government. He also mentored others by teaching football.

Joseph Featherston, assistant principal, called Mr. Zemser an inspiration to many students, who were distraught to hear of his loss.

"He had come back on numerous occasions dressed in his midshipman's uniform," Mr. Featherston said. "He made presentations to present students on the need to focus in life, set a plan and realize your goals."

City Council member Eric Ulrich, a Republican from Queens, said Mr. Zemser was a former intern in his office, and "truly a bright, talented and patriotic young man."

Jim Gaines, a video software architect who worked out of the Associated Press's Cranbury, N.J., offices, was also killed in the crash.

Mr. Gaines, 48, leaves behind a wife and two children, 16-year-old Oliver and 11-year-old Anushka.

"Jim was more precious to us than we can adequately express," his family said in a statement.

Mr. Gaines was returning home after meetings at the AP's office in Washington, D.C., according to Associated Press President Gary Pruitt. Mr. Gaines won several awards at the company, including as a member of a team that won the AP Chairman's Prize for development of the Online Video Network in 2006.

"Jim was beloved by his colleagues and friends for his technical expertise and his warmhearted nature," Mr. Pruitt said.

A longtime colleague, Paul Caluori, global director of AP Digital Services, said Mr. Gaines was known for his kindness, patience and skill in solving problems. He made a habit of offering people candy, granola bars or a bottle of water when they stopped by.

"He just had the biggest heart," Mr. Caluori said. "He'd greet you with a hug and ask you how your kids are...He was always trying to make your day better."

A third confirmed casualty was Rachel Jacobs, 39, CEO of Philadelphia technology company ApprenNet who lived in New York with her husband and toddler son.

"This is an unthinkable tragedy," said a statement released by her family. "Rachel was a wonderful mother, daughter, sister, wife and friend. She was devoted to her family, her community and the pursuit of social justice. We cannot imagine life without her. We respectfully ask for privacy so that we can begin the process of grieving."

Ms. Jacobs had an M.B.A. from Columbia Business School and BA from Swarthmore College, according to her LinkedIn profile.

A spokesman for Wells Fargo said Abid Gilani, a senior vice president in the bank's commercial real estate division, was one of the people killed on the train, the Associated Press reported.

Meanwhile, the family of Bob Gildersleeve, 45, was awaiting news of his whereabouts. The vice president of sales for Ecolab, who lives outside Baltimore with his wife and two children, is missing, said his father, Bob Gildersleeve Sr., adding his son's phone was found on the tracks.

"The anxiety in the not knowing--not that anyone is holding back information--but it is really frustrating the information that is coming to us," said Mr. Gildersleeve.

"We're talking about a half a dozen people dead, 200 people injured, a train making its way around the track at 100 miles an hour when it should have been doing 50," said Mr. Gildersleeve. "This is crazy and it's happening all too often."

Melanie Grayce West and Thomas MacMillan contributed to this article.

Write to Leslie Brody at leslie.brody@wsj.com

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