Monday, May 2, 2011

9/11

My good friend Kristen Keene lost her husband in 2001 on 9/11. He worked for Firzgerald Canter in the Twin Towers. They lived in New Jersey at the time, and Mazalee, their daughter, was just a baby.

Russ called her from an elevator he and other people used to try to escape. Once they reached the bottom floor, the doors opened slightly, so the men helped the a woman escape through the door, then the tower fell.

When Kristen  met with their attorney after the funeral, he handed her letters that Russ had written before that fatal day. Russ told Kristen that he had a premonition about his death, so he bought  insurance policies and instructed Kristen to move back to Atlanta so she would be surrounded by his business associates and friends. They had planned to move back to Atlanta soon.

Kristen and Mazalee will never have to worry about finances;however, losing a husband and a father was devastating to Russ's entire family. Mazalee has grown up without a father, but Kristen has managed to mold her into a beautiful child, just like her mother.

Russ was from North Louisiana. I have met his parents and told them how many people I spoke with who remembered him as a wonderful husband and father.

Kristen moved to Florida recently so Mazalee could be closer to her family. She still owns a houseboat on our dock. We don't see her as often, and I miss my beautiful friend.

2 comments:

  1. Russ is my first cousin and was from Sulphur, Louisiana which is in South Louisiana near the Texas border. His sister Jennifer still resides in Sulphur, while his mother and other sister, Krista, live in Ocala near Kristen & Mazy.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thank you for commenting. Larry and I miss Kristin and Mazie so much. Athough we never knew Russ personally, Larry and I know from speaking with friends that he was an amazing person, a wonderful husband and a good dad. Kristin has told us a lot about your family. We met Russ's mother several years ago. Every Sept 11th we remember. On our visits to New York we find his name on the first memorial established there. Blessings to your family. You must have been so proud of him.

    ReplyDelete