Never Forgotten: FDNY FF David Weiss

Eighteen days from now marks twenty-five years since September 11, 2001. A quarter-century has passed since that terrible Tuesday morning. It is the duty of the living to remember those killed that day. It is the duty of the living to make sure that the stories of their lives continue to echo through the years. It is the duty of the living to ensure those who were murdered that day are never forgotten. 

David Weiss, forty-one, had been a member of the FDNY for thirteen years. For the final six years of his FDNY career, he was a member of Rescue 1.  On September 11, 2001, FF Weiss was among the eleven members of Rescue 1 who responded to the World Trade Center. All eleven of them died there.  FF Weiss had two children, both of whom were teenagers when their father gave his life so others might live on September 11, 2001. 

Forever forty-one. Forever loved. Forever remembered. 

-AK 

Never Forgotten: Deborah Kobus

Nineteen days from now marks twenty-five years since September 11, 2001. A quarter-century has passed since that terrible Tuesday morning. It is the duty of the living to remember those killed that day. It is the duty of the living to make sure that the stories of their lives continue to echo through the years. It is the duty of the living to ensure those who were murdered that day are never forgotten. 

Deborah Kobus, thirty-six, at the end of the 2000-2001 Colorado ski season, had returned to New York from Aspen where she had worked at the St. Regis Hotel, to help her brother, Robert, care for their mother, who had Alzheimer's Disease. Shortly after she returned to New York, she got a job on Wall Street, as a Vice President at Chuo Mitsui Trust and Banking Company. She was in her office on the 83rd floor of the South Tower when hijacked United Airlines Flight 175 was flown into the building. 

On Labor Day, 2001, Deborah Kobus had become engaged to Alexander Setzler. The couple met in Aspen, Colorado, when she began working at the St. Regis.   

Forever thirty-six. Forever loved. Forever remembered. 

-AK 

Never Forgotten: Paul Joseph Simon

Twenty days from now marks twenty-five years since September 11, 2001. A quarter century has passed since that terrible Tuesday morning. It is the duty of the living to remember those killed that day. It is the duty of the living to make sure that the stories of their lives continue to echo through the years. It is the duty of the living to ensure those who were murdered that day are never forgotten. 

Paul Joseph Simon ran a computer consulting firm, DAU Systems. On the morning of Tuesday, September 11, 2001, he was visiting a client, Marsh & McLennan, on the 97th floor of the North Tower when hijacked American Airlines Flight 11 was deliberately flown into the building.  He and his wife, Shelley, had been married for thirty-one years at the time of his death. They had been together for forty years, when they were teenagers in the Catskills. They lived in Staten Island, New York, and had a summer home on Long Beach Island, New Jersey, in Beach Haven. 

Forever fifty-four. Forever loved. Forever remembered. 

-AK 

Never Forgotten: Robert Hayes

Twenty-one days from today marks the twenty-fifth anniversary of September 11, 2001. A quarter century has passed since that terrible Tuesday morning. It is the duty of the living to remember those killed that day. It is the duty of the living to make sure that the stories of their lives continue to echo through the years. It is the duty of the living to ensure that those who were murdered that day are never forgotten. 

Robert Hayes was a Massachusetts man. He was born in Medford and at the time of his death, he lived in Amesbury with his wife, Debbie, and their two small children, Robbie and Ryan, who were just four years old and eight months old respectively on the day their father was murdered. He and Debbie met at Logan Airport in 1989.  He had missed his flight and she was the customer services agent for TWA who rebooked him. She said that after he returned from trip, he became a regular caller to her at the ticket counter - and not because he needed to book a flight. 

He worked for the Swiss firm, Netstal Machinery, and on that Tuesday morning a quarter-century ago, he boarded American Airlines Flight 11 at Boston's Logan Airport, bound for a bueiness meeting in Los Angeles.  

Forever thirty-seven. Forever loved. Forever remembered. 

-AK

Never Forgotten: Mirna Duarte

Twenty-three days from today marks the twenty-fifth anniversary of September 11, 2001. A quarter century has passed since that terrible Tuesday morning. It is the duty of the living to remember those killed that day. It is the duty of the living to make sure that the stories of their lives continue to echo through the years. It is the duty of the living to ensure that those who were murdered that day are never forgotten. 

Mirna Duarte, thirty years of age, was a native of Honduras. At the time of her death, she lived in Richmond Hills, Queens. She worked as a consultant at Marsh & McLennan and was in her office in the North Tower of the World Trade Center when the murderous cowards who hijacked American Airlines Flight 11 deliberately crashed it into the building. 

At the time of her death, Mirna Duarte was engaged to be married to her boyfriend, Randy.  Tragically, they were deprived of the opportunity to exchange vows and to live the life they had imagined together. 

Forever thirty. Forever loved. Forever remembered. 

-AK 

Never Forgotten: FDNY Lt. David Halderman

Twenty-three days from today marks the twenty-fifth anniversary of September 11, 2001. A quarter century has passed since that terrible Tuesday morning. It is the duty of the living to remember those killed that day. It is the duty of the living to make sure that the stories of their lives continue to echo through the years. It is the duty of the living to ensure that those who were murdered that day are never forgotten. 

The FDNY was part of David Halderman's DNA.  His father retired following a thirty-year career in the FDNY. His brother, Michael, retired from the FDNY as a Deputy Chief.  Tragically, Lt. Halderman's father died in August 2001, just six days after Lt. Halderman's fortieth birthday.  A nine-year veteran of the FDNY, Lt. Halderman was part of Squad 18 in Manhattan. On September 11, he was one of the valiant first responders who sacrificed his own life so that others could live.  He was one of four siblings.  

When he died on September 11, 2001, FF Halderman was on the list to be promoted to Lieutenant. Following his death, the FDNY honored his life and his legacy by posthumously awarding him the promotion. 

Forever forty. Forever loved. Forever remembered. 

-AK

Never Forgotten: FDNY Firefighter Leon Smith, Jr.

Twenty-four days from today marks twenty-five years since September 11, 2001. A quarter century has passed since that terrible Tuesday morning. It is the duty of the living to remember those killed that day. It is the duty of the living to make sure that the stories of their lives continue to echo through the years. It is the duty of the living to ensure that those who were murdered that day are never forgotten. 

Leon Smith, Jr. was a FDNY firefighter, stationed at Ladder 118 in Brooklyn Heights. He was the "Chauffeur" - the driver. One of the lasting images of September 11, 2001, is the photograph Aaron McLamb took that morning from his apartment window, which captured Ladder 118 racing across the Brooklyn Bridge towards the Twin Towers, both of which were already engulfed in flame and black smoke. Leon Smith, Jr. and all five of his brothers from Ladder 118 who rode with him that morning were killed while saving innocents. 

FF Smith joined the FDNY on February 27, 1982. Among those he loved who had to bid him farewell far too soon were his mother, his wife, and his daughters.   

Forever forty-eight. Forever loved. Forever remembered.  

-AK 

Never Forgotten: Daniel M. Lewin

Twenty-five days from today marks twenty-five years since September 11, 2001. A quarter century has passed since that terrible Tuesday morning. It is the duty of the living to remember those killed that day. It is the duty of the living to make sure that the stories of their lives continue to echo through the years. It is the duty of the living to ensure that those who were murdered that day are never forgotten. 

Daniel M. Lewin, thirty-one years of age, founded Akamai Technologies in 1998 with one of his MIT professors and with one of his fellow MIT students. In less than three years, it had grown into one of the world's top technology companies.  Mr. Lewin lived in the Boston area with his wife Anne and the couple's two sons, Eitan and Itamar. 

Born in Denver, Colorado, he moved to Israel with his parents in 1983. Upon his high school graduation, he served for four years in the Israel Defense Forces, where he rose to the rank of Captain. On the morning of September 11, 2001, he was seated near three of the hijackers in first-class on American Airlines Flight 11. He is widely believed to have been the first victim killed on September 11 - stabbed to death by one of Flight 11's hijackers when he rose up against them and tried to prevent the hijacking.  

Forever thirty-one. Forever loved. Forever remembered.  

-AK 

Never Forgotten: FDNY Lt. Christopher Sullivan

Less than four weeks from today marks twenty-five years since September 11, 2001. A quarter century has passed since that terrible Tuesday morning. It is the duty of the living to remember those killed that day. It is the duty of the living to make sure that the stories of their lives continue to echo through the years. It is the duty of the living to ensure those who were murdered that day are never forgotten. 

Christopher Sullivan was born in Manhattan in late July 1962. It is not, however, where he and Dolores, who was his high school sweetheart before she became his wife, lived and where they raised their two sons, Sean and his little brother, Brian. North Massapequa, Long Island, is where the Sullivans called home. Sean was only six when he father was killed while saving others at the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. Brian was just four. 

Christopher Sullivan was a Lieutenant in the FDNY. He had joined the FDNY in August 1986, after having first served the public as a corrections officer in the Nassau County Sheriff's Department and, then, as an officer in the NYPD.  Once he joined the FDNY, his initial posting was Engine 82, Ladder 31 in the Bronx. Once he was promoted to Lieutenant, he transferred to Engine 214, Ladder 111 in Brooklyn. He was last seen on the morning of September 11, 2001, heading up the stairs in the North Tower with the men of Engine 214, looking for people to help. 

Forever thirty-nine. Forever loved. Forever remembered.

-AK

Never Forgotten: Edna Cintron

Twenty-seven days from today marks twenty-five years since September 11, 2001. A quarter century has passed since that terrible Tuesday morning. It is the duty of the living to remember those killed that day. It is the duty of the living to make sure that the stories of their lives continue to echo through the years. It is the duty of the living to ensure those who were murdered that day are never forgotten. 

Edna Cintron, forty-six, worked as an Administrative Assistant for Marsh and McLennan on the 93rd Floor in the North Tower. She and her husband, William, had been married for twelve years at the time of death. The couple lived in East Elmhurst, Queens. 

Incredibly, and tragically, Edna Cintron survived the impact of American Airlines Flight 11 smashing into the North Tower.  The last photograph taken of her was taken after the North Tower had been struck but before its collapse. She was there - on the building's edge - pleading for help she likely knew in her heart was not going to come.  Although the South Tower was struck after the North Tower was, the South Tower was the first of the two to collapse. Shortly before it did, Edna Cintron was seen falling from the North Tower. 

Forever forty-six. Forever loved. Forever remembered.

-AK

Never Forgotten: Jennifer Lynn Mazzotta

Twenty-eight days from today marks twenty-five years since September 11, 2001. A quarter century has passed since that terrible Tuesday morning. It is the duty of the living to remember those killed that day. It is the duty of the living to make sure that the stories of their lives continue to echo through the years. It is the duty of the living to ensure those who were murdered that day are never forgotten. 

Jennifer Lynn Mazzotta, born in Ridgewood, Queens, in April 1978, was the oldest of Catherine and Vito Mazzotta's three children. Her sister, Michelle, and her brother, Charles, thereafter arrived to complete the Mazzottas' party of five.  Jennifer was the first person in her family to graduate from college, earning her degree from St. Joseph College in Brooklyn in  2020. 

Shortly after graduation, she began her career at Cantor Fitzgerald. She was at work on the North Tower's 101st Floor when terrorists flew hijacked American Airlines Flight 11 into the building. At the time of her death, she was engaged to Anthony Roman, who was enrolled at the police academy. They were planning on getting married in the Summer of 2002. 

Forever twenty-three. Forever loved. Forever remembered. 

-AK  

Never Forgotten: James Andrew O'Grady ("Andy")

Twenty-nine days from today marks twenty-five years since September 11, 2001. A quarter century has passed since that terrible Tuesday morning. It is the duty of the living to remember those killed that day. It is the duty of the living to make sure that the stories of their lives continue to echo through the years. It is the duty of the living to ensure those who were murdered that day are never forgotten. 

James Andrew O'Grady, "Andy" to those who knew him best, was thirty-two years old on September 11, 2001.  He was in his office in the South Tower, where he was a Managing Director of fixed-income sales at Sandler O'Neill & Partners when murderous cowards attacked the innocents working at the World Trade Center. 

Andy was a championship swimmer, which prowess earned this Jersey boy an athletic scholarship to UCLA, where he earned four varsity letters, traveled on three occasions to the NCAA Finals, and as a senior served as one of the team's co-captains.   

He lived in Manhattan with his fiance Rachel, to whom he had gotten engaged approximately five weeks before his death. The couple had already set a date - May 4, 2002.  On New Year's Eve 2001, his body was recovered from Ground Zero.  He was laid to rest on January 18, 2002. 

Forever thirty-two. Forever loved. Forever remembered. 

-AK 

Never Forgotten: Monica Goldstein

Less than one month from today marks twenty-five years since September 11, 2001. A quarter century has passed since that terrible Tuesday morning. It is the duty of the living to remember those killed that day. It is the duty of the living to make sure that the stories of their lives continue to echo through the years. It is the duty of the living to ensure those who were murdered that day are never forgotten.

Monica Goldstein turned twenty-five just thirty-three days before September 11, 2001. She worked for Cantor Fitzgerald on the 101st floor in the North Tower.  Monica was a Staten Islander - born in Dongan Hills, which is where she lived in adulthood.  She was the second-born daughter of Cecelia and Sonny Goldstein and little sister to Adrienne. The Goldstein girls were more than sisters.  They were best friends.

Monica spent the night on Monday, September 10, 2001, at Adrienne's apartment.  The sisters had watched a scary movie together. When it was finished, Monica asked Adrienne if she was scared, to which Adrienne responded, "a little." Monica opted to spend the night at her big sister's place. Strength in numbers, you know. 

At the time of her death, Monica Goldstein was engaged to be married. She and Michael Rizzo had already set their date, which was September 20, 2002.  

Forever twenty-five. Forever loved. Forever remembered. 

-AK 

Never Forgotten: FDNY Lt. Vincent Giammona

One month from today marks twenty-five years since September 11, 2001. A quarter century has passed since that terrible Tuesday morning. It is the duty of the living to remember those killed that day. It is the duty of the living to make sure that the stories of their lives continue to echo through the years. It is the duty of the living to ensure those who were murdered that day are never forgotten.  

Tuesday, September 11, 2001, was Vincent Giammona’s fortieth birthday. Lieutenant Giammona had served seventeen years in the FDNY, following in the footsteps of his father, Captain Vincent M. Giammona (Ret.).  Lt. Giammona and his wife, Theresa, were the parents of four daughters, all of whom were less than ten years old at the time of his death. 

Lt. Giammona was stationed at Ladder 5 in Greenwich Village. On the final morning of his life, he called home to talk to Theresa. He told his wife he loved her and said goodbye to her before he headed into the maelstrom that was the World Trade Center.  

Forever forty. Forever loved. Forever remembered. 

-AK 

Drop the Needle and Play

 

Forty-five years ago today, William P. Kenny, Sr. died. He was roughly six and one half months past his fifty-seventh birthday. Half of his six children were grown and off on their own, plotting their course in the world. Kara, Jill, and I were still home with him and the indomitable Joanie K. 

It was one hell of a way to start the summer.  It one hell of a way to start adulthood. 

Forty-five years.  An eternity and an eye blink.  Same as it ever was.  

-AK