Two decades have passed since the tragic attack on the towers. Twenty years ago. Twenty years ago, so many Americans thought it was another day on the calendar. Another day to head to work in the city. Another day to walk around New York. Another day.
I can’t imagine what those who lost loved ones must feel, especially decades later. It never gets easier for them. I’m sure it never will. They keep going, that’s all they can do. They keep going by sharing memories of their dear friends and family who were there. They share their stories and never, ever forget that day.
Two years ago, I wrote an article for my freelance writing class on someone who passed away on 9/11. Someone who tragically died in the World Trades Center. Someone who had friends, family – people who cared about him and wish more than anything he was still here today. I never personally knew him. I had only heard about him. I heard he was kind. He was smart. He loved sports. He loved his town. I heard many, many good things about him and decided that was what exactly what I needed to write about.
I can remember driving in my car. It was early September. The second to third week of classes. I was a junior in college. Anyway, for my freelance writing class, I needed to write my first article and had to interview someone. I didn’t know what to do. Idea and after idea popped into my head. I could write about dogs, fashion….so many topics out there. So many people I could interview. But, I needed to do this quickly. Time was ticking. I only had a week to interview someone and then the next, put a rough draft together.
That’s when it hit me. I wanted my first article to really be significant. One that wasn’t just thrown together. I wanted it to have meaning and to be about someone special who touched this world in some way or another. I decided to write about 9/11. I would write about someone who was there that day and share his legacy, the impact he had on people – through my article. My grandmother knew someone who had tragically passed away that day. He was good friend’s with my uncle. So, I decided to interview my grandmother and learn all I could about the friend they had both lost.
By no means does this article share every single thing about him. Someone could write a novel about this person. Like I said before, he was special, talented, kind – you name it. There’s so much more to be said about him, just like everyone who passed away that day. They were all beautiful people with beautiful lives and beautiful stories that should forever remind us how precious life is. Regardless of how much time passes, we will never forget all the souls that were lost that day. Never.
Below is the article I wrote on Christopher Dincuff.
Never Forget- We Remember You, Christopher Dincuff
By Chea Kostbar
9/11- a day we remember people like Christopher Dincuff; one of many victims who lost his life tragically. Eighteen years ago, Christopher Dincuff, an assistant trader for Carr Futures, lost his life on the stairwell of the towers. The day began as a pleasant, sunny morning and ended with shouts of mourning, smell of smoke, taste of acid, and heartbreak throughout New York City. At the age of thirty-one, Dincuff spent his last moments with coworkers walking down the 91st floor of The World Trades Center, thinking they would live to see tomorrow.
Dincuff left behind beloved family, friends, and a community. They remember him as the man who couldn’t go anywhere without a smile on his face, an award winning personality, and someone with an intelligent mind. Dincuff, known as Chris, Dink or “The Mayor of South River, New Jersey”, would faithfully go to every South River High School football game and cheer for his team. He carried a passion for the sport and heart of gold everywhere he went.
The Impact & Legacy of One Man
Mary Horton, the mother of Jason, Dincuff’s Chris’s childhood friend, fondly recalls him dancing at a friend’s wedding and calling her “Cookie” with a beaming grin on his face. She treasures the memory as her last moment spent with him. A hopeless romantic at heart, Dincuff adored weddings and time spent with loved ones. He fell in love with Angela Gutermuth, eagerly planning a wedding in September 2002. “It’s sad. Every year, we all get sad when we think about Chris,” said his friend, Mary. “He should have been married to that girl and having a good life.”
Intelligent & Successful
Dincuff earned a BS in business from Villanova University with a business degree. In honor of him, his mother Joan Dincuff gives out two scholarships called, “The Christopher M. Dincuff Memorial Scholarship Fund” every year. A four-year scholarship to Villanova for the South River High School salutatorian since Dincuff was salutatorian of his graduating class, and the September 11th Award is given out.
“He was..he was a great guy,” said Mary somberly, “I wouldn’t just say that, because he was one of Jason’s friends. But out of them all, it had to be him. He was the nicest one out of all Jason’s friends. It had to be him, truly.” Many will always remember people like Dincuff; an innocent victim with a story and mark left on this world.
In memory of Dincuff and remembrance of 9/11, a memorial representing the towers remains at the center of Dailey’s Pond in South River, New Jersey. An American flag, the twin towers and his name are featured on it. Dincuff and other victims of the gruesome terrorist attacks remind us to never forget the beauty of life and enjoy the time spent on earth.
Self portrait of Chris taken from: https://livingmemorial.voicesofseptember11.org/christopher-dincuff-chrisdink
Dailey’s Pond/ 9/11 memorial photo provided from a friend of Christopher Dincuff
The Chronicles of Chea K. 