On September 11, 2001, Beverly Eckert was in a meeting when she received the shocking news that a hijacked plane had collided with the North Tower of the World Trade Center. In a coordinated terror attack, the two planes were intentionally crashed into the Twin Towers, causing their collapse, and another into the Pentagon. A fourth plane, likely targeting the White House, crashed in Pennsylvania after passengers fought back.
Beverly’s husband, Sean Rooney, was working on the 98th floor of the South Tower when these attacks happened. As soon as she heard the news, Beverly rushed home to contact Sean. Initially, Sean called to reassure her that he was safe, reporting an accident in the adjacent North Tower. However, after a second plane hit the South Tower, trapping him inside, Sean made a heart-wrenching final call to Beverly. Trapped in a smoke-filled stairwell on the 105th floor, as Sean struggled to breathe, they both knew it was their last conversation.
Sean Rooney’s last words to his wife were a repeated “I love you.”
During an interview after the 911 terror attacks, Beverly talked about that tragic morning, praising her husband’s courage in the face of death, “He showed no fear, even when the windows were scorching hot and the smoke was suffocating.”
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Their final moments together were filled with despair, yet precious. Over the call, they discussed their happy times, expressing gratitude for their life together. As the end drew near, they exchanged whispers of love. Sean’s final words were a repeated “I love you” amidst the thickening smoke. Then, a loud explosion and a sharp crack signaled the collapse of the floor beneath him. Beverly heard Sean’s last gasp, and she was left holding the phone, calling his name repeatedly in despair, but there was no answer.
Beverly and Sean’s love story began at a high school dance when they were just 16. They fell deeply in love and built a life together. Sean was a skilled carpenter who loved to build kitchen cabinets and furniture. He was also a devoted husband who would always return from his long commute, eager to greet Beverly with a warm hug.
Beverly became an advocate for 9/11 terror attack victims
After the devastating 9/11 terror attacks, Beverly channeled her grief into advocacy, becoming a powerful voice for victims and their families. She co-founded “Voices for September 11th” and later joined the 9/11 Family Steering Committee, which successfully lobbied for intelligence reforms in 2004. Beverly’s tireless efforts aimed to expose government shortcomings and prevent future tragedies.
Beverly’s motivation was deeply personal, as she claimed, “I did it all for Sean’s memory. I just wanted Sean to come home from work. Maybe now, someone else’s Sean will get to come home.” Sadly, Beverly’s life was tragically ended in 2009 when her plane crashed in Clarence Center while flying to Buffalo, where she was headed to celebrate her late husband Sean’s 58th birthday.