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.
Showaye Selassie and her friend Susan Greenfield
Showaye Silassie (L) tells her friend Susan Greenfield (R) about an early memory of her mother.
Lindberg Echols and his son Bryan
Bryan Echols (R) and his father, Lindberg (L), talk about how their relationship has changed over time.
David Wilson
David Wilson was a plaintiff in the 2004 court decision that legalized same sex marriage in Massachusetts.
Wilson’s journey to that landmark case started 10 years earlier — when he lost his first partner, Ron Loso, to a heart attack. The EMT’s who arrived on the scene were suspicious of David and called the police. Later, when he got to the hospital, officials would not release any information about his partner.
That injustice led to Wilson becoming a plaintiff in the 2004 court decision.
The first weddings, which included David’s own, began taking place on May 17, 2004, after same sex marriage became legal in Massachusetts.
Originally aired October 15, 2010, on NPR’s Morning Edition.
Judge Berryl Anderson and Virginia Anderson
Judge Berryl Anderson and her mother, Virginia Anderson, came to StoryCorps in Atlanta to talk about what Berryl was like as a child. As it turns out, she was the family troublemaker.
The day they recorded this conversation, Berryl was sworn in as the Chief Magistrate Judge in DeKalb County, Georgia.
Originally aired September 17, 2010 on NPR’s Morning Edition.
Scott Miller and Jackie Miller
Jackie Miller and her husband adopted their son, Scott, on May 25, 1971. Thirty-seven years later, Scott and Jackie came to StoryCorps to talk about their relationship, and for him to find out more about her decision to adopt him. During their conversation, Scott learned something he never knew before about his mother.
Click here to watch “Me & You,” an animation of Scott and Jackie’s story.
Originally aired June 11, 2010, on NPR’s Morning Edition.
Ralph Catania and Colbert Williams
Colbert Williams (R) talks with Ralph Catania (L), his fifth grade math teacher who later became his legal guardian, about going to live with Ralph at the age of 15.
Gwen Richards
Gwen Richards remembers her mother, Helen, who had Alzheimer’s.
Frank Lynch and Antonio Douglas
Frank Lynch, owner of the Cactus Car Wash, talks with his friend and regional manager, Antonio Douglas, about Frank’s concerns over Antonio’s high weight. Eventually Frank, 70, challenged the younger man to a foot race beating him the first time they ran, but following a year of training, Antonio, 45, emerged victorious the next time they ran.
Originally aired January 1, 2010, on NPR’s Morning Edition.
Sam Reed
Sam Reed is a mortician whose interest in the funeral business began when he was a child. For more than a decade, has also been the caretaker at Atlanta’s historic Oakland Cemetery. At StoryCorps he discusses the many reasons he loves his job.
Originally aired November 6, 2009, on NPR’s Morning Edition.