The 2996 Project: I Remember Barbara A. Shaw

I am proud to be a part of this project -- I only hope I can do Barbara Shaw justice.

Shaw, 57, a Compaq computer executive, arrived at Windows on the World atop the North Tower of the World Trade Centre around 8 a.m. Tuesday, September 11, 2001, for a two-day conference on financial technology sponsored by Waters Magazine. In an article in Newsday, published four days later, her daughter, Janine Van Riper, is quoted as saying she was still paging her mother. That kind of thing made my heart ache at the time, and still does. In the same article, though, Van Riper said that she had accepted she would have to tell her 2-year-old son, Ryan, he would not see his grandmother again. She is also quoted as saying that Shaw, "was extremely dedicated to her job. She was a workaholic." Her co-workers appreciated it -- and not just for her professionalism. Comments left by Shaw's colleagues, on online memorial sites, describe an ethical and caring woman, who doled out motherly advice and affection when people around her were struggling. One comment left on the 9-11 Legacy guestbook is noteworthy:

Barbara was our account executive about fifteen years ago while she was empoloyed at Burroughs.We fast became personal friends! One could not find a friendler, more competent person who placed YOUR concerns and interests above making a buck.

That last line touched me, because I so tire of hearing the attacks excused away as a response to American or Western "greed." As though everyone killed that day were cold-hearted symbols of something despised, rather than human beings just trying to live their lives.
More than work, Shaw loved her family, and her favourite hobby -- cooking. From the New York Times obituary:

At 18 months, her grandson, Ryan, was an eccentric eater, but she would not be discouraged. She made him boats of zucchini, filled with spaghetti sauce and peas, topped with a flag and little passengers, said her daughter, Janine Van Riper...Ms. Shaw, 57, a computer executive, was a dutiful daughter as well, making a three-hour round trip at least every other weekend to visit her 88-year-old mother in Pennsylvania, said her brother, Ron Rysztogi. Three years ago, Ms. Shaw moved into a new house in Morristown, N.J., in part because it gave her more room for cooking. "She found a place that had the kitchen she always wanted," Mr. Rysztogi said. "It's just a shame she didn't have it that long."

While researching this memorial, I tried to contact her daughter, but was unsuccessful. However, at least I was able to find a message Van Riper had posted on a memorial website, written December, 2001:

We are finally getting a moment to sit back and reflect of the last 3 1/2
months. It seems like yesterday was September 11th and everyday it hurts.
I am grateful to have my husband and 2 1/2 year old son to get me through
each day. Moving and clearing out my mom's house was the worst. We closed
on our home October 11th and are still in boxes. I'm thankful that
Christmas is over and maybe the New Year will be one for healing. If there
is any lesson I can teach any of you from my experience it is to spend as
much time with your family as you can and get your affairs in order. The
paperwork alone for the survivors is enough stress on its own.

While reading about Shaw, I kept thinking of the Jacques Prevert poem Rappelle-toi Barbara. For those of you who don't know, it's a poem about a man looking back, after World War II, at pre-war Brest. He remembers a woman named Barbara. A link to the whole poem, in French, is here. It's very lovely -- about the losses and pain of war.
As noted, I tried to contact members of Shaw's family. I hope any of her family, or friends (including her now seven-year-old grandson), who read this tribute will feel free to add their thoughts in the comments section.