Doug Irgang--Sept. 11 memories

This is in response to a General thread re: what do you remember most about September 11. I thought it would be a good idea to share stories about the people we lost.

On edit: Because it's more important to remember the people we lost than the people who caused this mess! Please feel free to share stories!

Doug Irgang was an acquaintance. I had only met him a couple of times, so I didn't know a lot about him. But I did know he was an incredibly nice person who always had a grin on his face. He lived in NY and worked in the WTC.

He met his fiance on the subway. I believe they were planning on getting married in Dec. 2001.

I'm not sure where he was from originally, but he did attend Tulane in New Orleans (where I live) and he was a damn good swimmer!

:boring:

I worked with Evan Gillette's mother when I was on a summer intership during my college years in the mid 1980s. I remember when Evan and/or his brother Earl would come in to the office, or Eleanor would be talking about them, she just beamed. They were her boys, and, from what I saw of how they loved her, two reasons to beam with pride. Evan was very quiet, and a few years older than me, so we didn't talk much. But I knew it was a case of "still waters run deep" and nothing negative. He loved the woods and he loved his family. In later years, I sometimes wondered what had happened to Evan. On Sept. 12, 2001, I was reading my hometown paper online at the office and found out. He died on the 104th floor of the South Tower. The last thing his mother reportedly heard him say, when he called after the North Tower was struck, was, "I love you." I went into the ladies room and swore and fought back tears. I kicked myself for not getting to know him better. What a loss.

I never met Nancy Morgenstern. I only came to know about her, and the extraordinary human being she was, after her death on September 11. Learning about her life has changed mine profoundly, something I imagine would have delighted and amused her.

Nancy was an Orthodox Jew. Many women who conform to this religious tradition decide that they can't also engage with the secular world, because of all the demands on their role within the religion. Nancy, however, managed to devote her life to God, but also to hold down a job with a highly competitive bond trading company, become a pretty good skier and succeed as a competitive cyclist. After her death, I read volumes of letters from friends and acquaintences who admired either her ability to compete, her grace under pressure, or her ability to continue to practice her demanding religion and still perform in the secular world. There were stories about how she would stop during a weekend bike race to observe the Sabbath, sitting in a tent all day, cooking kosher food in pots and pans she brought with her and lighting candles she'd packed.

Nancy was an emmissary of her faith, sharing her love of God and her joy in serving him, to Jews and non-jews alike. She brought people of all different backgrounds together, in love and joy. She was a model for how people can live their lives being true to themselves and their ideals, while making love in their hearts for those around them.

I'm sorry I never met Nancy. I know I would have loved her. But I love what an inspiration she was and is to me, and to all those who knew her.

I know there are lots of stories out there, and lots of websites that already cover this sort of thing, but it's important to remember

memories which are forever altered by the events of that day.

Not about memories of the day, which, however are important.

Just pickin nits.