Message from President Bloom: 9/11 Remembrance

NJIT Community Members,

Today is a solemn date when we honor the lives and memories of the thousands who perished on September 11, 2001, in hijacked airplanes that crashed into the World Trade Center in New York City; the Pentagon in Washington, DC; and a field in rural Pennsylvania, thanks to the heroic efforts of passengers who prevented that last plane from reaching its intended target, the United States Capitol building.

For many of us who, at that time, were part of an NJIT community just a PATH train ride away from the World Trade Center’s majestic towers, and for those who lost friends and loved ones that day, the emotions we experienced are so easily recalled on this date. It now has been 19 years since NJIT alumni Edward Keane, Class of 1961; Patrick Hoey, Class of 1969; George Strauch, Class of 1970; Franco Lalama, Class of 1980; Francesco Ricardelli, Class of 1985; Paul Beatini, Class of 1986; Mark Zangrilli, Class of 1988; Eddie Ching, Class of 1997; and Kleber Molina, Class of 1998; died in the collapse of Towers 1 and 2. The NJIT community that day also lost former Trustee Donald Peterson and his wife, Jean, who were aboard Flight 93 en route to a family reunion in California when it crashed in Pennsylvania. Alayne Gentul, the wife of NJIT’s Dean of Students at that time, Jack Gentul, died as well because she bravely took an elevator to a higher floor of Tower 2 after the first plane hit in order to make sure members of her staff were evacuating. 

The sadness, anger, and fear we experienced during that time will never be forgotten, but we also should reflect upon the manner in which the people of our nation, and nations around the globe, united in support of one another and in defiance of intolerance and hate in the immediate aftermath of the September 11 attacks. That support transcended so many boundaries and demonstrated the best traits of our humanity. The instinct during times of crisis to put away our differences and help one another is something we should aspire to more frequently. It is an ethos we should endeavor to embrace at all times, not just in crisis.

Sincerely,

NJIT President Joel S. Bloom