They were our husbands and wives, our mothers and fathers, our brothers, cousins, neighbors, friends, colleagues, lovers, Busboys and businessmen, pilots and programmers, secretaries and socialites, firefighters and financiers. They were heroes by choice, they were heroes by chance. They were loved and they were lost.
Soon after the horrific events of September 11, newsroom staffers at The New York Times began to ask about the real people, the names and faces behind the unimaginable statistics. Their efforts, which grew into the daily 'Portraits of Greef' feature, gathered force over the ensuing weeks and eventually became a cultural phenomenon on a national scale. Each day, readers in New York and across the country spent a few moments getting to know the doting fathers and loving spouses, gourmet cooks, fanatical sportsment, partygoers, church elders, pranksters and perfectionists--the astonishing diversity of unique individuals. And as we made the transition from mourning our loss to celebrating these lives, a gentle note of uplift was sounded, and we began to think about healing.
Portraits: 9/11/01 brings together all the poignant memories and reminiscences, and stands as a lasting tribute to these beloved souls.
