Remembering Thomas Hannafin

Kevin Hannafin was part of the search team at the WTC after the towers fell when the remains of several of ladder 5 were found. He said it was the proudest moment of life to carry his brother Thomas' helmet from the wreckage. Tommy had last been seen on the 37th floor of Tower 1.

Thomas Hannafin was a basketball player in high school and college. He was still such a good basketball player that he had won a gold medal earlier in 2001 at the three on three basketball competition World/Police Fire Department Games in Indianapolis. He had been a life long resident of Westerleigh on Staten Island.

In 2002, his wife Rene wrote this:

Babe,

For 18 and a half years, you were my strength, my hope, my one and only true love.

I will always cherish the memories we made together. You were my best friend when all else had failed around me.

You pulled me up when I was down and always made me laugh with one of your corny jokes. I can still hear you with that crying laughter that you and John would make, which I know he misses so much.

Most of all I remember your smile. It was so contagious and still is.

Kayla and Thomas miss you so much. Every day we talk about you, and remember the funny games that you would play with them. When I put them to bed at night, your watch beeps 10 minutes past the hour and when they hear it, they send you kisses and say how much they miss and love you. It breaks my heart every time.

Your family has been great to the kids and me. My mom and Jimmy miss you tremendously. And thanks, now I have to deal with them all by myself. Ha, ha! The guys at the firehouse have been wonderful, as you are well aware. Our friends and neighbors have been there for us every day.

Hun, I miss you so much and I wish I could turn back the hands of time, to hold you again and kiss your sweet lips.

"My heart will always belong to you."

Love,

Me

part of Project 2996

Remembering Jupiter Yambem

Jupiter Yambem was born in Manipur (A state in India) and came to NYC when he was 21 (20 years before 911). He quickly began to work at some of the most famous restaurants in the city settling finally at the Windows on the World in the WTC where he was Banquet Manager. As I hear and have read, if you wanted to have an event at Windows on the World, Jupiter was your go to guy.

Jupiter loved life and loved to have fun by all accounts. He co-founded a small group for himself and others who came from Manipur--The North American Manipur Association. The association'a goal was to allow fellow natives of Manipur to hold on to a bit of their native traditions.

[Jupiter] had two purposes, said his wife, Nancy Yambem. He wanted his son to know something of his heritage -- to see the dances and hear the music and taste the food. But he also wanted to construct a bridge, however modest, between two vastly different cultures.

The strands of Mr. Yambem's life came together at his memorial service. His friends gathered at Beacon Riverfront Park on the banks of the Hudson River. They had a potluck dinner and Mr. Seeger sang "Turn, Turn, Turn." Later, they released hundreds of small paper boats onto the river, each with a candle inside. Mr. Yambem's ashes were returned to Manipur and scattered over a lake[another source says his ashes were scattered in Dargeeling along his old hiking trail Tiger Hill].

Part of Project 2996

Remembering Rebecca Lee Koborie

Rebecca Lee Koborie--Becky's passion was music. Many nights she could be found singing and playing piano at Piano Bars and
Restaurants in Manhattan and New Jersey after working all day at Marsh and McLennan's in the North Tower at the World Trade Center (she worked there for 16 years--ever since she came to Manhattan--which Becky loved and it offered her a world of opportunity to practice her craft. Friends say one always knew when Becky was in a room--she was funny, vibrant and animated--but also a perfectionist and a drill sergeant.

Becky grew up in Sharon, Pennsylvania and graduated from Sharon High School (class of 1971).
From 4 or 5 years old, she was singing and dancing. At 10 she was on Ted Mack's Amateur Hour. During her junior and senior year in high school, she was in the chorus both as a singer and accompanist. She was also very active with the local playhouse. She attended Indiana University in Pennsylvania and graduated from the University of Cincinnati in 1977 with a degree in theater arts and music. During her college years, she spent her summers performing dinner theater throughout the Midwest and Eastern Seaboard.

Becky was well loved by family, friends and her cats. She is greatly missed. She was 48 and had moved to the New Jersey suburbs after 15 years in Manhattan.



Part of the Project 2,996 started by Dale Challener Roe .