The Families

About this book

Resilience, gratitude, love... Not the stories you would expect from a 9/11 anthology, but what you get from THE FAMILIES. THE FAMILIES collects essays by 176 Cantor Fitzgerald family members, survivors and witnesses forever changed by September 11, 2001. Edited by Edith Lutnick and Caroline Aiken Koster, the anthology shares stories of love, loss, resilience, gratitude, healing, service and hope. Authors spanning generations share their 25-year journey and include lessons for the next generation. The astonishing mosaic applies to anyone experiencing loss or trauma. THE FAMILIES provides a path for how to navigate grief and tragedy with resilience and even joy-a blueprint not just for loss, but for life itself. Cantor's headquarters occupied the 101st-105th floors of One World Trade Center. When AA Flight 11 struck at 8:46 a.m. on September 11, 2001, our employees were above the impact zone. No assistance could reach them. They became heroes to each other. Every person on those floors was killed. In total, 658 of 960 New York employees died -- the single greatest 9/11 loss of any organization. Each family has a story worth reading: Despite being severely burned, survivors write of gratitude. A West Point cadet, who lost his brother, channels grief into a PTSD program for veterans. A son not yet born when his dad died grapples with generational grief and finds a way forward. A NYPD detective loses both his brother and 23 brothers and sisters in uniform. An identical twin takes us to the trading floor on 9/11. Mothers raise children with joy, faith and determination in the face of unimaginable hurdles. Families confront addiction, embrace profound faith or civic duty, and seek grace. THE FAMILIES also contains historic context: Family member, Editor and Relief Fund Co-founder, Edith Lutnick shares the resilience and evolution of the charity, creating a lasting legacy and call to always remember. Former Cantor Chairman Howard W. Lutnick, brother of Gary, writes of rebuilding the firm. Allison Lutnick charts disaster relief. Editor Caroline Koster connects the legacy of voices and reflects on joining Cantor in the year after the events. The Cantor Fitzgerald Relief Fund On September 14, 2001, Howard W. Lutnick and his sister, Edie Lutnick, co-founded The Cantor Fitzgerald Relief Fund with his $1 million personal donation. After meeting the pledge to assist family members left behind, this culture of philanthropy created a legacy for those we lost. The Cantor Fitzgerald Relief Fund has assisted hundreds of charities around the world, including disaster relief. 100% of profits from book sales will be donated to the Relief Fund to assist our charitable mission.