PMC RESPONDS TO THE TRAGEDY OF 9/11/2001
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PMC Community's Response
Alumnae Responses
Thank you so much for your lovely letter of September 28. I appreciate
your feelings of concern following the horrible tragedy our nation endured
last month...Although no one in my family was injured in this disaster,
the circle of pain has spread to many friends and acquaintances. One
of my sons...a student at Purdue University, is...living for the semester
with a family who is employed by Boeing, whichlost three people in one
of the airplane crashes...I think about the young people in college
today and next year and hope that the world will be comfortable and
safe in their lifetime...I shall always be grateful for my two years
at Pine Manor. I learned from wonderful teachers and made many friends.
My best wishes go to everyone at Pine Manor, and please know that you
are in my prayers.
—Cecile (Lili) T. Mc Caffery ’60
We appreciated your letter of comfort and caring for your present and
past students. Our oldest son is a captain with American Airlines. He
flies the same type of plane, and many times the route that the terrorist
plane was headed on prior to the attack. My husband, Peter, and I had
several hours of deep stress until our son called us from San Francisco
to report he was safe. Our son was in the plane he was to fly that day
and ready to take off when the towers were hit. Needless to say, he
did not take off for the airport was immediately closed down...I am
still very disturbed about his flying, but he is very alert to any suspicious
passengers.
—Jeanne Remington ’43
Your letter of September 28 was so lovely and so appropriate—I
am sure all alumnae who received it felt drawn back to the relatively
peaceful days of our college years—and certainly took comfort in
knowing that Pine Manor cares about us as we care about it. I am one
of the lucky ones who had no one directly affected by the terrible events
in New York and Washington, but of course we are all affected in many
ways and will be for the rest of our lives. I also know we
will get through it and be more truly a part of the world. The USA has
been very fortunate in its isolation. We can’t, just can’t,
continue that stance.
—Marian Terrell ’38
It was very special to receive your letter at a time when I most needed
a hug. I think of PMC more often because of friends I met (while there)
who live all over the world. I worry for some of their safety, because
a few of them were from Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, and Israel.
—Heidi Connor ’81 and ’84
It is with deep appreciation that I thank you for your letter and concern
for the Pine Manor family. What a moving, caring word of encouragement!
My family and I were very fortunate not to have any one of us near the
towers, but like many other people, we knew of many who were affected.
One of my former students during my career as a librarian, James Waters,
was one of the victims, and that has moved our community deeply.
—Marilla Halstead Ives ’46
Thank you so much for the very lovely letter you sent to all of us
last week. Because Logan Airport was indirectly involved in the terrible
events of September 11, I have thought often of all of you, hoping everything
is going along as normally as possible. You certainly are doing everything
possible to achieve that! I am very proud to be an alumna of Pine Manor,
and your letter is an example of one reason. You have made me feel like
family again, and I pray for you and all your students’ peace of
mind and success—I am not doing well putting my heart into words.…
PS I was in Grove House on December 7, 1941, and remember well the uprooted
feeling.
—Polly Roberts Lowe ’42
Thank you for your letter of concern—our family is fine. Our sons
work in the financial fields of NYC, and they have lost friends. Our
neighbor of 20 years ago died in the event. This event is a real blow
to our country. We will never be the same—but we (the USA) will
all stand together and move on.
—Florence Thayer Darby ’59
I was so impressed by your letter of September 28. Fortunately my family—daughter
Mary Sullivan ’61—her children, and grandchildren in New York
are not physically harmed, but emotionally they are not yet well. “Our”
College has done the right thing these past weeks under your leadership.
—Elaine Wormerser Reis ’32
I thought your letter was perfectly lovely...what a very nice thing
to do! Fortunately, we are all fine. We lost three members of our country
club and have been to numerous funerals. The whole situation is dreadful,
but so far we are lucky.
—Nancy Leeds ’44
I wanted to thank you for the letter of concern and let you know that
my family and I are safe.
—Promis Ahern ’99
Thank you very much for contacting me. I always think about my days
at Pine Manor and all that I learned while living in America. I am fine.
I am now living in Lima, Peru, with my husband and two daughters. I
am praying for you all, hoping that these problems are going to pass
soon.
—Giuliana Macchiavello ’82
I thought your letter was very thoughtful, and it was most appreciated
during this difficult time. My office is on Fifth Avenue and 20th Street,
so we could clearly see what was going on downtown. I don’t think
I will ever get those images out of my head. My thoughts and prayers
go out to anyone who has lost family or friends in this horrific tragedy.
—Tracey Doolin ’95
First I would like to let you know that I am OK. I live in New York
City. On September 11, I watched the tragedy unfold from the roof of
my building. I live approximately 3.5 miles away from Ground Zero. I
was fortunate not to have lost anyone in the brutal attack. I do have
friends and work associates who lost extended family and friends. As
an American I felt violated and hurt; as a woman I am grateful to be
an American, as I am horrified by the treatment of women in Afghanistan.
I am having a difficult time comprehending the motives and minds of
the Taliban and the terrorists they harbor. I would like to thank Pine
Manor for your letter of support and encouragement; it made a difference.
I am so very grateful for the time I spent at Pine Manor, and I am a
very proud and grateful alumna. In light of what has been realized through
this tragedy, I see how fortunate we all are as American women. Education
is the key to growth and freedom. Thank you, PMC, for giving me the
gift of growth, freedom, and liberty.
—Lauren E. Walsh ’92
My husband traveled every day under the WTC on the Path Train, but
he went through early on the morning of the 11th. Our children’s
school cafeteria has a terrific view of Manhattan from which we all
watched unbelieving as the towers collapsed. The good news is that of
1,200 children in the school, no parents were lost. Many friends had
amazing good luck too...missed trains, doctors’ appointments, early-morning
parent meetings, etc., on that morning. And we have heard of other friends
who escaped on those stairs. Our town was lucky, too, even though it
is a commuter town. Now we go to the few funerals to be supportive.
We go to help at a soup kitchen in Chelsea that is helping the more
than 6,000 low-income workers the Towers left without employment. Our
church is in touch with Ground Zero, so we are able to help fill some
specific needs of the cleanup crews. We feel lucky to be able to do
something, however small.
—Dorothy Bates Spragins ’72
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