Identification Card, Recovered
- Description
- Recovered Empire BlueCross BlueShield identification card issued to Edward Frank Beyea at the World Trade Center. The damaged card is warped and dented. There is a partial cut in the plastic on the lower right corner nearly severing the corner.
- Historical Notes
- Born in Bath, New York, Edward Beyea lived in New York City. Paralyzed from the neck down by a diving accident at age 21, Edward learned to use a wheelchair and to type with a stick held in his mouth. On September 11, Edward, a computer programmer at Empire BlueCross BlueShield, was on the 27th floor of the North Tower, waiting for evacuation help with a friend, Abraham Zelmanowitz. Edward was 42 years old.
Curator's Comment
Edward Beyea and Abraham J. Zelmanowitz had been good friends for many years. They enjoyed smoking cigars and going out to dinner, often in the company of Beyea’s personal aide, Irma Fuller.
On September 11, when workers at Empire BlueCross BlueShield began to evacuate, Zelmanowitz stayed with Beyea, refusing to leave his side until professional emergency responders could arrive. Irma Fuller was at work with Beyea that morning, but at Zelmanowitz’s insistence she hurried downstairs to the building’s lobby with the directive to inform rescue personnel that Beyea was awaiting assistance.
Beyea and Zelmanowitz were assisted by FDNY Captain William Francis Burke, Jr., of Engine Company 21, who had responded to the North Tower. Realizing the South Tower had collapsed, Burke urged his men to evacuate, but he stayed behind with Beyea and Zelmanowitz, helping them descend to the 21st floor.
Before they died, the men were able to contact loved ones. Burke would be the only member of his firehouse to perish on September 11.
On September 11, when workers at Empire BlueCross BlueShield began to evacuate, Zelmanowitz stayed with Beyea, refusing to leave his side until professional emergency responders could arrive. Irma Fuller was at work with Beyea that morning, but at Zelmanowitz’s insistence she hurried downstairs to the building’s lobby with the directive to inform rescue personnel that Beyea was awaiting assistance.
Beyea and Zelmanowitz were assisted by FDNY Captain William Francis Burke, Jr., of Engine Company 21, who had responded to the North Tower. Realizing the South Tower had collapsed, Burke urged his men to evacuate, but he stayed behind with Beyea and Zelmanowitz, helping them descend to the 21st floor.
Before they died, the men were able to contact loved ones. Burke would be the only member of his firehouse to perish on September 11.
- Accession Number: C.2011.727.1
- Dimensions: 2 in X 3.5 in X 0.5 in
- Dimensions (Metric): 5.08 cm X 8.89 cm X 1.27 cm
- Source: Pamela Southard
- Credit Line: Gift of the Beyea family in memory of Edward
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