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When Every Step Mattered: A 9/11 Survivor’s Story
When Every Step Mattered: A 9/11 Survivor’s Story
- February 3, 2026
September 11, 2001 started as a typical morning for Richard Eichen. After taking the PATH train from New Jersey to the World Trade Center, Eichen bought a coffee and a bagel and began to make his way up to his new office on the 90th floor of the North Tower. It was his first week of work for Pass Consulting Group, and Eichen did not yet have a key to his office. As he waited in the hall for his coworkers to come and unlock the door, he heard a loud bang and was thrown across the floor.
After recovering from the shock, Eichen began looking for a path to safety. He was eventually able to make his way into the main offices and met a few other people who were also looking for a way out. Together, Eichen and another man named Charlie Egan called the building’s main office to let them know there were people on the 90th floor that needed help. As they hung up, one of the women with them, Lucy Gonzalez, noticed that the ceiling above them was smoldering. Eichen and Egan searched for other people on their floor, and seeing no one else, made the decision to evacuate. However, Lucy decided that she would rather stay where she was and wait for first responders.
When Every Step Mattered: A 9/11 Survivor’s Story
Photograph, Digital (C.2011.740.1)
“And I said, ‘Lucy, we’re not leaving anybody behind, we got to get out of here…’ And I put her hands on my shoulders; she stood behind me...and I held her hands so she wouldn’t let go...and then together we went out.”
As they made their way downstairs, Gonzalez fainted at the 25th floor and had to be revived by the FDNY. Soon after, Eichen grabbed Gonzalez and carried her down the rest of the way, evacuating only minutes before the North Tower collapsed. Eichen made sure that Gonzalez was safely with paramedics before walking to Downtown Beekman Hospital, where he was treated for injuries and learned about the extent of the attacks. He quickly discharged himself from the hospital – still wearing his hospital gown – and began to walk across the Brooklyn Bridge towards his parent’s home in Rockaway, Queens. As he crossed the bridge, a stranger offered him a ride, and he was soon reunited with his family.
Later, Eichen tried to locate Gonzalez and was able to reconnect with her through email, confirming they were both safe. They reunited on the 10-year anniversary of the attacks, under the 9/11 Memorial’s Survivor Tree.
This September, participants around the world can hear Richard share his story, in his own words, as a part of the 2026 Anniversary Digital Learning Experience. Register for this free program today.
By Madeleine Smith, Education Specialist
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References
Pachucki, Jenny. “9/11 Survivors Reunite at Survivor Tree 10 Years Later,” The MEMO Blog.
Oral History with Richard Eichen, Conducted by Jenny Pachucki, May 10th, 2011. 9/11 Memorial & Museum Collective Access. (C.2011.360)
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