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EDWARD T. KEANE
WORLD TRADE CENTER
This post will remain at the top of my blog until 9/12/06
Scoll down for current posts
I am participating in 2,996, a tribute to the victims of 9/11. This event has been organized by D. Challener Roe, a fellow blogger. All 2,996 victims are being honored by a blogger on their blog. To see a full list of the participants and the person they are honoring click here. Visit as many blogs as you can and read their tributes to these men, women and children who were someone's husband, wife, mother, father, sister, brother, daughter, son, grandparent, friend.
EDWARD T. KEANEWORLD TRADE CENTER
Five years ago today the most horrific terrorist attack to occur on American soil happened in New York City. That morning 2,996 people awakened in their homes, took showers, got dressed, many had breakfast with their families and left for work or a business trip or a pleasure trip. They kissed their wives, their husbands, their parents, their children, their boyfriends, their girlfriends goodbye with "I'll see you tonight" on their lips.
Edward Keane was a Port Authority engineer and had retired three years previous to the attacks. During those three years he had enjoyed himself. He had taken cruises with his wife, of 38 years, Barbara and they had toured national parks. He spent some special time with his daughter and her new baby in California and helped care for his ailing mother in law. He also enjoyed gardening and landscaping their yard in West Caldwell, N. J.
But after three years of retirement he was running out of things to do. After hearing a gentleman in the neighborhood complain that walking his dog everyday was NOT what he wanted to do in retirement, Edward decided he would make a change. Four months before the attack he went back to the work he loved, being a Port Authority engineer. He became a consultant with the Authority's Department of Bridges, Tunnels and Terminals. He loved it. His work took him into the pilings and up the towers of the George Washington Bridge and into construction projects in the bus terminals. But most of his days were spent in his office on the 64th floor of Tower 1.
According to his wife, he loved being in Lower Manhattan. He loved the flavor of the area and the revitalization that he had watched through the years. In fact, he was an authority on the buildings in the area and acted as a tour guide for any visitors who came in from out of town.
When the Trade Center was attacked in 1993, Mr. Keane was cited for helping a distraught pregnant woman down 72 flights of stairs to safety. He had a great deal of faith in the structural integrity of the buildings having worked with some of the engineers who built the towers. He always felt safe there.
According to survivors, after their tower was hit they all thought it would remain intact. Keane, and 15 other engineers, barricaded themselves in a conference room putting coats under the door to block the smoke. When they saw the second tower hit they decided to evacuate. Only two from the group made it out.
Edward Keane was a man that loved his work and had no intention of retiring again. He would have continued to work until he was not able to do so. But his greatest joys of his life were his wife, his son, his daughter and his four grandchildren.
His wife said, "We always said he wanted to go with his shoes on, and he did". He left behind a grieving family but his legacy remains. Rest in peace Edward.
Edward Keane was a Port Authority engineer and had retired three years previous to the attacks. During those three years he had enjoyed himself. He had taken cruises with his wife, of 38 years, Barbara and they had toured national parks. He spent some special time with his daughter and her new baby in California and helped care for his ailing mother in law. He also enjoyed gardening and landscaping their yard in West Caldwell, N. J.
But after three years of retirement he was running out of things to do. After hearing a gentleman in the neighborhood complain that walking his dog everyday was NOT what he wanted to do in retirement, Edward decided he would make a change. Four months before the attack he went back to the work he loved, being a Port Authority engineer. He became a consultant with the Authority's Department of Bridges, Tunnels and Terminals. He loved it. His work took him into the pilings and up the towers of the George Washington Bridge and into construction projects in the bus terminals. But most of his days were spent in his office on the 64th floor of Tower 1.
According to his wife, he loved being in Lower Manhattan. He loved the flavor of the area and the revitalization that he had watched through the years. In fact, he was an authority on the buildings in the area and acted as a tour guide for any visitors who came in from out of town.
When the Trade Center was attacked in 1993, Mr. Keane was cited for helping a distraught pregnant woman down 72 flights of stairs to safety. He had a great deal of faith in the structural integrity of the buildings having worked with some of the engineers who built the towers. He always felt safe there.
According to survivors, after their tower was hit they all thought it would remain intact. Keane, and 15 other engineers, barricaded themselves in a conference room putting coats under the door to block the smoke. When they saw the second tower hit they decided to evacuate. Only two from the group made it out.
Edward Keane was a man that loved his work and had no intention of retiring again. He would have continued to work until he was not able to do so. But his greatest joys of his life were his wife, his son, his daughter and his four grandchildren.
His wife said, "We always said he wanted to go with his shoes on, and he did". He left behind a grieving family but his legacy remains. Rest in peace Edward.
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