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.
Photograph courtesy of the Downey family
John Abruzzo and Michael Curci
John Abruzzo (above) is a quadriplegic who uses an an electric wheelchair. On September 11, 2001, he was working as an accountant for The Port Authority in the North Tower of the World Trade Center. Abruzzo escaped the building with the help of 10 colleagues, who carried him down 69 flights of stairs in an emergency evacuation chair. At StoryCorps, John spoke with Michael Curci (left), one of the 10 who helped him to safety.
Recorded September 26, 2007.
Monique Ferrer
Monique Ferrer (pictured above) and Michael Trinidad (pictured left) were divorced, but they remained powerfully bonded to each other by their two children.
On the morning of September 11, 2001, Michael, at work, called Monique from inside the World Trade Center to say goodbye.
She came to StoryCorps to record her memories of him so that her children would always remember their father.
Click here to watch the Peabody-award winning StoryCorps animated short about Monique Ferrer and Michael Trinidad, “Always a Family.”
Originally aired September 8, 2006 on NPR’s Morning Edition.
Photo courtesy of Monique Ferrer.
Jessica DeRubbio
Jessica DeRubbio was 12 when her father, David DeRubbio (left), was killed in the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001.
He was a New York City firefighter along with three of his brothers.
Five years after his death, Jessica came to StoryCorps to remember him.
Originally aired September 8, 2006 on NPR’s Morning Edition.
Richard Pecorella
When Richie Pecorella met Karen Juday, she captured his heart and changed his life.
They were engaged and living together in Brooklyn when Karen was killed in the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center, where she worked as an administrative assistant.
At StoryCorps, Richie remembered the woman who was his love and inspiration.
Click here to watch the Peabody-award winning animated short about Richie and Karen, “She Was the One.”
Originally aired September 9, 2005 on NPR’s Morning Edition.
Photo courtesy of Richie Pecorella.
Jefferson Crowther and Alison Crowther
On September 11th 2001, a man with a red bandana made his way up and down the South Tower of the World Trade Center three times, helping at least 18 people get out of the building.
His name was Welles Remy Crowther (pictured left), a 24-year-old equities trader for Sandler O’Neill and Partner on the 104th floor. Like his dad, he was a volunteer fireman and he dreamed of one day joining the fire department.
Welles’ body was recovered on March 19, 2002 on the ground floor lobby, right beside the FDNY’s control center. His last contact with his parents was a voicemail he left for his mother, “Mom, this is Welles. I want you to know that I’m ok.”
His parents, Alison and Jefferson Crowther, came to StoryCorps to remember their son.
Originally aired July 25, 2005 on WNYC’s Brian Lehrer Show.