Sept.11 dust cloud causes death 10 years later


Jeremiah Ahern Ernest Alikakos Japhet Aryee Steven Berger Jerry Borg Eli Chalouh


James Domanico Sareve Dukat


Clyde Frazier Jr. Dianne Gladstone


Yan Z (Cindy) Guan Neil Lai


Story and photo by DEBORAH A. MILES This September 11 marks the 10th


anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the Unites States. Almost everyone remembers where they were and what they were doing when the news hit. There aren’t enough precise words to


describe the shock and sadness of that horrific day when nearly 3,000 people were killed, 34 of whom were PEF members. Just thinking about that day still resurrects raw emotions in so many people, especially those who witnessed the collapse of the World Trade Center (WTC). “Time doesn’t heal all wounds. Not


something this big. What time can do in the case of Sept. 11 is help people to reflect, cope and unite,” said PEF Region 10 Coordinator Vernetta Chesimard. The dense cloud of pulverized concrete


and glass that billowed over lower Manhattan from the attacks on the twin towers is still killing people. In June, a New York City medical examiner ruled that a 63-year-old man


Page 12—The Communicator September 2011


~ In Memoriam ~ Chow Lam Myoung Lee


Hyunjoon (Paul) Lee Stephen Lefkowitz Tyrone May Robert Miller


Richard Miuccio Oscar Nesbitt Michael Ou


Salvatore Papasso Diane Parsons Dennis Pierce


was killed by complications caused by a lung condition he got from inhaling that dust. His name was Jerry Borg, and he was


once an active PEF member who worked as an accountant for the state Department of Taxation and Finance. He was doing an audit at a building near ground zero on Sept. 11 and was caught in the toxic cloud. He also was a bit-part actor and small-


time inventor who happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time. He died December 15, 2010. His death brings the official count of


the WTC attack victims to 2,753. Although thousands have blamed health problems on the WTC dust, Borg is only the third victim to be added to the medical examiner’s list of victims. The ruling is a rarity and the results showed he had pulmonary sarcoidosis, a disease in which inflamed cells make someone’s lungs stiff and interfere with normal breathing. The other two deaths were also caused


Gerard Rauzi Rose Riso


Jon Schlissel


Barry Simowitz Yesh Tembe Diane Urban


Sankara Velamuri Yuk Ping Wong Ignatius Adanga


Charles Lesperance See Wong Shum


by sarcoidosis. PEF President Ken Brynien said Borg’s


name will added to the PEF memorial in time for the anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks. “The terrible events of Sept. 11


continue to haunt us,” Brynien said. “It was also a time that brought out the best in our members. They responded to the attacks with courage and a sense of responsibility. Our members helped in the rescue and ensured the vital services provided to New York citizens were not interrupted. “In the face of the attacks, we united as


a union to help victims of the tragedy and aid their families. We will never forget that day. We must continue building on the unity forged in the fires of Sept. 11 and work together to improve the lives of members, especially those who were caught in the toxic dust. “This is the best tribute we can make


to our colleagues in recognition of the sacrifice they made.”


PEF Information Line: 1-800-553-2445


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