Stephen, a former Catholic priest, married Michele and Jason and also presided over Jason’s memorial. In the days after 9/11 he accompanied an FDNY Battalion Chief to the homes of firefighters who died. Offering consolation to shattered families he knew his mere presence meant their worst fears were confirmed.

Michele is Jason’s widow. She was forced to navigate an uncertain future when her husband of only three months was killed. At first her heart refused to accept the harsh reality but as time passed, Michele redefined her life, moving beyond the mantle of ‘9/11 widow.’

John, a firefighter, was one of Jason’s best friends, and at Ground Zero when a third building collapsed, chasing him down the street with a monstrous cloud of smoke and debris. He married his wife, Jill, just three weeks after 9/11. She became his ‘true north’ who helped him deal with going back day after day searching for human remains.