Dae Jin Ryook, Kyung Woo Rook and Lauren Woo
Christina Sunga Ryook (pictured with her parents at left) worked in the human resources department of Cantor Fitzgerald on the 104th floor of the World Trade Center’s North Tower. She was 25 years old when she was killed in the attacks on September 11, 2001.
Her parents, Dae Jin (pictured above left) and Kyung Woo Ryook (pictured above right), came to StoryCorps with Christina’s friend Lauren Woo (pictured above center) to remember their daughter and share their pain. Asked by Lauren what he would say to Sunga today, her father Daejin would tell her, “I’m sorry and I love you. Because, I never said I’m sorry to my daughter. I never said I love you to my daughter. I was kind of tough father to Sunga.”
Recorded May 5, 2009.
Photo courtesy of the Woo Ryook family.
Christine Kraft
After hearing about the World Trade Center attacks on September 11, 2001, Red Cross volunteer Christine Kraft headed straight to Ground Zero. There, she was tasked with taking care of first responders on the scene.
Christine came to StoryCorps to talk about how people from across the city came together to help in the rescue effort.
Recorded September 5, 2008.
Racquel Kelley
Racquel Kelley was working at the Pentagon on the morning of September 11, 2001 when American Airlines Flight 77 crashed into the building. At the time, Kelley had an 8-month-old son at home.
She came to StoryCorps to talk about her memories of that day.
Recorded May 21, 2006.
Brenda Kenny and Mike Kenny
Mike Kenny worked at Ground Zero during the recovery effort after the September 11 attacks.
He came to StoryCorps with his wife, Brenda, to talk about his work and the effect it had on their family.
Recorded December 5, 2008.
James Perry and Patricia Perry
Police Officer John W. Perry was killed in the World Trade Center attacks on September 11, 2001. John was also a lawyer, an actor, a multilinguist, an athlete, and a civil liberties activist.
His parents, Patricia and James Perry, came to StoryCorps to remember him.
Recorded May 1, 2008.
Angie Kardashian
For decades, Angie Kardashian ran an Italian restaurant in California. But after September 11, 2001, everything changed. While watching news coverage of the rescue effort at Ground Zero, she felt called to help.
Angie sold her restaurant, moved to New York City, and starting contributing in the best way she knew how: cooking for firefighters. Angie thought she’d stay for a few months, but those months turned into years. In the two years that followed, Angie cooked for more than one hundred FDNY companies.
She came to StoryCorps to remember her experience.
Recorded March 4, 2008.
Steve Giacchi
Steve Giacchi worked for Bank of America securities in the North Tower of the World Trade Center. He was in his office on the 81st floor when American Airlines Flight 11 hit the building. Along with his coworkers, he headed to the stairwell to begin the long descent.
At StoryCorps, he remembers what it was like as he joined the thousands trying to make their way to safety.
Recorded July 19, 2005.
Jan Vigiano and John Vigiano Sr.
John Vigiano, Sr. is a retired New York City firefighter whose two sons followed him into service—John Jr. was a firefighter, like his father, and Joe was a police detective.
On September 11, 2001, both Vigiano brothers responded to the call from the World Trade Center, and both were killed while saving others.
At StoryCorps, John Sr. sat down with his wife, Jan, to remember their sons.
Click here to watch the Peabody-award winning animated short about the Vigiano brothers, “John and Joe.”
Originally aired September 11, 2009, on NPR’s Morning Edition.
Diana DeVito and Frankie DeVito
Bill Steckman (pictured at left) worked the night shift atop One World Trade Center as an engineer for NBC’s transmitter there. He was killed on September 11, 2001.
Frankie DeVito (pictured above left), Bill’s grandson, came to StoryCorps with his mother (pictured above right), Diana DeVito, to remember him.
Originally aired September 5, 2008, on NPR’s Morning Edition.
Photo courtesy of the DeVito family.
Rosalie Downey and Joe Downey
Ray Downey, FDNY Deputy Chief in charge of Special Operations Command, was one of 341 New York City firefighters lost on September 11, 2001.
Chief Downey was one of the nation’s leading experts on rescue operations at collapsed buildings having overseen search-and-rescue work after the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995.
His wife, Rosalie Downey (above left), remembered him in a StoryCorps interview with their son, Joe Downey (above right), who is himself a Fire Captain.
Recorded December 20, 2006.