Eunice Hanson and Lee Hanson
On September 11, 2001, Eunice Hanson and Lee Hanson lost their son Peter, their daughter-in-law Sue-Kim, and their granddaughter Christine Lee when United Airline flight 175 was flown into the World Trade Center’s South Tower.
That morning Peter called his parents from the plane telling his father, “Dad, we’ve been hijacked…I think they’ve already killed somebody and I don’t think the pilot’s in control of the plane.” Lee was still on the phone with Peter when the plane crashed.
Eunice and Lee came to StoryCorps to talk about that day.
Recorded February 11, 2011.
Beverly Eckert
Sean Rooney worked for Aon on the 98th floor in the South Tower of the World Trade Center. After United Airlines Flight 175 struck the tower about twenty floors below him, Sean tried to make his way to the roof. As he searched for an escape route, he called his wife, Beverly.
Beverly came to StoryCorps to remember their final conversation.
Beverly went on to become an advocate for families affected by September 11. She died in the crash of Continental Flight 3407 in 2009. She was traveling to Buffalo to award a scholarship in Sean’s name.
Recorded November 19, 2006.
Michele Garcia and Frank Garcia
Robert Oswain was one of hundreds of NYPD officers who patrolled the World Trade Center site shortly after September 11, 2001.
In 2010, Oswain died from a rare form of cancer that his family believes was caused by exposure to toxic dust at Ground Zero.
His parents, Michele and Frank, came to StoryCorps to remember him.
Recorded on December 5, 2010.
Barbara Cattano
In the early 1970s Alena Sesinova fled communist-controlled Czechoslovakia and immigrated to the United States.
She went on to become a systems analyst for Marsh and McClennan. She was working in their office in the North Tower of the World Trade Center on September 11th, 2001.
Alena was 57 years old when she was killed. Her partner of 22 years, Barbara Cattano, remembered her at StoryCorps.
Recorded September 13, 2001.
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.