Granvilette Kestenbaum
Howard Kestenbaum worked on the 103rd floor of the North Tower of the World Trade Center. He was killed during the September 11, 2001 attacks.
His wife, Granvilette, came to StoryCorps to talk about how they first met while in graduate school—and how one unusual date led to a 31-year-long marriage.
Recorded July 16, 2010.
Gladys de la Torre and Carolina de la Torre
Azucena de la Torre, a native of Ecuador, worked on the 103rd floor in the North Tower of the World Trade Center. She was killed in the September 11, 2001 attacks.
As a professional, de la Torre was a vice president and senior project manager at Cantor Fitzgerald. In her personal life, she was a mentor to her younger sisters.
Two of de la Torre’s sisters, Gladys and Carolina de la Torre, came to StoryCorps to remember their final moments together.
Recorded August 29, 2010.
Jud Esty-Kendall and Jack Murray
Welder Jack Murray (right) went to Ground Zero on the day of the September 11, 2001 attacks. Jack, among the first “steel burners” on the scene, cut through metal in the wreckage so that rescue workers could find survivors buried in the rubble of the World Trade Center.
He came to StoryCorps with his friend Jud Esty-Kendall (left), and described the intensity of the heat and fire coming from the debris.
Originally aired September 10, 2010 on NPR’s Morning Edition.
Jean Braca and David Braca
Alfred Braca, a bond broker at Cantor Fitzgerald, worked in the North Tower of the World Trade Center for sixteen years.
Alfred was killed in the September 11 attacks. He was 54 when he died.
His wife, Jean, and their son David came to StoryCorps in New York to remember how the day unfolded.
Recorded May 25, 2010.
John Romanowich
After September 11, 2001, thousands of men and women came to New York to aid in the recovery effort. As a construction project manager with the city agency in charge of the cleanup, John Romanowich, arrived at the World Trade Center site just days after the attack.
John came to StoryCorps to remember those working long hours—sometimes till midnight—at Ground Zero.
Originally aired September 10, 2010 on NPR’s Morning Edition.
Antonia Landgraf and Matthew Gambale
Giovanna “Gennie” Gambale (pictured at left) worked at Cantor Fitzgerald on the 105th floor of the North Tower at the World Trade Center. Her sister, Antonia Landgraf (above left) also worked in the World Trade Center—but 100 floors below Gennie. On the morning of September 11, 2001, Antonia managed to leave her office and went home to wait for her sister—but Gennie never made it out of the building. She was 27 when she was killed.
At StoryCorps, Antonia and her brother Matthew Gambale (above right) remember how the community came together in the days following the attacks.
Recorded September 30, 2009.
Andrea Doctor
Johnnie Doctor, Jr. was an information systems technician first class in the United States Navy. He worked at the Pentagon and was killed in the September 11, 2001 attacks.
Johnnie’s wife, Andrea, came to StoryCorps to talk about that day and how she has drawn on Johnnie’s strength to move forward.
Recorded September 12, 2008.
Dina LaFond and Anita Korsonsky
Jeanette LaFond-Menichino worked on the 94th floor in the North Tower of the World Trade Center. With little higher education, she managed to work her way up to Senior Account Analyst at Guy Carpenter, a subsidiary of Marsh McLennan.
Her sister, Anita LaFond-Korsonsky, and her mother, Dina LaFond, came to StoryCorps to remember Jeannette’s determination
Dina leads tours for visitors to Ground Zero and says that the experience has helped in her grieving process. Anita has never revisited the site of the Twin Towers. Instead, she prefers to look out towards Manhattan from across the water at Eagle Rock Reservation’s 9/11 memorial, where she leaves cards and flowers for her sister.
Recorded August 8, 2008.
Bernell Sutton
Claudia Sutton (pictured at left) was an accountant at Cantor Fitzgerald with an office on the 101st floor of the World Trade Center’s North Tower. She was killed in the attacks on September 11, 2001.
At StoryCorps, her husband, Bernell Sutton, recalls their last morning together.
Recorded September 18, 2009.
Photo courtesy of Bernell Sutton.
Nancy Cimei
New York City firefighter Michael D’Auria (pictured at left) had only been on the job for nine weeks when his engine company rushed to the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001.
He and four other members of his company were among the first responders killed that day.
Nancy Cimei came to StoryCorps to remember her son.
Recorded January 31, 2008.