Today marks the 16th anniversary of 9/11. And while the World Trade Center complex has largely been rebuilt and the deadliest foreign attack ever on U.S. soil has largely been relegated to history books, the scars left by the deaths of 2,996 people (plus those lost to 9/11 related illnesses) remain, particularly for those closely touched by the tragedy.
Director Jim Whitaker began chronicling the lasting effects of 9/11 while filming the evolution of Ground Zero, and nine people closely impacted by the tragedy, beginning in 2002 over an eight-year period. His documentary Rebirth was released in 2011, and in the years since, the project has morphed into a nonprofit organization Project Rebirth dedicated to education efforts about 9/11 in middle and high school classrooms, support programs for first responders and veterans dealing with mental health issues, and the release of more films, including the short Rebirth: Brian in honor of the 15 year milestone about the brother of a New York City firefighter killed on 9/11 who overcomes PTSD.
“The resilience of our film participants and so many individuals affected by that terrible day continue to surprise and inspire us,” Project Rebirth’s Executive Director Helen Rafferty told LittleThings.
Tanya Villanueva Tepper, one of the original subjects of Rebirth, is a prime example of the resilience that rose from that fateful day.
Tepper’s fiancé Sergio, a firefighter, was killed in the attacks, and in the years following, Tepper has dedicated herself to working with Project Rebirth to help others suffering from loss and trauma.
For Tepper, her efforts stem from a desire to honor her late fiancé. We chatted with Tepper last year, and her efforts continue to be meaningful on yet another 9/11 anniversary.
“When we met, it was a whirlwind romance, with him living in New York and me living in Miami,” Tepper told LittleThings. “I moved to be with him in New York, and we were together for seven years when he proposed to me in June, 2001. It was the seven-year anniversary of our first kiss.”
"It was a great time in our lives," Tepper said. "We had just moved into the new home we purchased, which was blocks away from our gift shop which we named Inner Peace."
Sergio left his job as a narcotics detective for the New York City Police Department to become a firefighter so he could have more time to help Tepper with their burgeoning business.
Sergio was finishing up a 24-hour shift at his firehouse on the day of 9/11. Instead of going home, he headed to the site with five other men from the Ladder 132 fire station in Brooklyn. "I didn't get to speak to him that day," Tepper said.
“I was on the telephone that morning with my mom as it unfolded. As the first tower collapsed I just had this sense that Sergio was there. And then the second tower collapsed and I knew our world had changed forever.”
Tepper remembers a confusing next few days that felt like a bad dream, including receiving confirmation that Sergio’s fire truck had gone missing.
“I just couldn’t believe he was gone,” she said. “I held a vigil for 28 days. That was my number because others had survived being trapped in other disasters for that long.”
Eventually, Tepper says, she had to start coming to terms with the idea that Sergio wasn’t coming home.
In June, 2002, Sergio’s memorial service was held, despite the fact that none of his remains had been recovered. During Tepper’s eulogy she included her wedding vows.
“Once that happened, I knew life was moving on,” she said.” And it became my compulsion to share Sergio’s story, I didn’t want people to forget. I started hanging posters of Sergio so people could see a face, a human being.”
For Tepper, a big part of her recovery from that point on was participating in support groups and therapy. “I found a commonality among those in a widow group [that I was in] that really saved me from sorrow.”
That experience, along with Tepper’s participation in the Rebirth documentary led to her own commitment to share her experience and to give back to those facing similar issues. “I want to give people hope that from the deepest grief you can find peace and live a happy life," she said.
Tepper joined the Project Rebirth team in 2011 leading workshops at the weekend long program Camp Widow helping to support both men and women who have lost loved ones. She also participates in Project Rebirth's education efforts, appearing in middle, high school and college classrooms providing a personal connection to 9/11.
"I received a letter from one kid who was bipolar and clinically depressed and a few letters from other kids who were dealing with loss, and they've told me that my story has helped them — that means everything to me."
Last year, living in Florida, Tepper had celebrated her 10th wedding anniversary to her husband Ray, and has two daughters.
“Life [today] is beautiful,” she said. “Despite all of the craziness I wouldn’t trade it for the world. I’m genuinely happy and at peace. And my husband Ray is so supportive of my work and honoring Sergio. So many people ask me how he handles it, and I think it is because he knows I would do the same if it were him.”
As for how Tepper celebrated the anniversary last year? “We are going to New York with our closest friends and family…We are going to see Sergio’s soccer jersey which is at the [9/11 Memorial] Museum…and then we are going to Sergio’s firehouse in Brooklyn to not only honor Sergio, but all of the guys who lost their lives, and those who lost their lives in the years following because of 9/11 related illnesses. And while I am there I am going to continue to hang his poster up.”
“Time has a really strange way of moving when you lose someone,” Tepper said. “15 years ago when it was unfolding I knew that I would never get to see Sergio again, and my biggest fear was that I would forget the nuances of him. I can say that 15 years later that I remember them all. And even with him gone, I’ve still been able to create new memories with him. He is so known to people that he has never met, and has been such an inspiration to others, and that’s really been a gift.”
