As the nation marks 25 years since the attacks, The Haitian Times reflects on the lives of Haitian Americans who perished and the families still carrying their memory.
On the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks, The Haitian Times has turned its attention to the stories of Haitian Americans whose lives were forever altered by that day. According to the outlet, three Haitians—Mark Y. Gilles, André Bonheur Jr., and François Jean-Pierre—are memorialized among 110 known Caribbean-born nationals killed in the attacks.
François Jean-Pierre, born in Haiti, had quietly built a life in Queens, where he worked as a utility steward in the kitchen of Windows on the World, the restaurant perched atop the North Tower. At 81 years old, he was among the oldest victims of the attacks and one of countless immigrant kitchen workers—dishwashers, porters, and stewards—whose labor sustained the city’s most iconic establishments.
Another figure whose story resonates within the Haitian community is Maxima Jean-Pierre, a 40-year-old food-service administrator working on the 105th floor of the North Tower. According to The Haitian Times’ reporting, she was known for her distinctive kindness: she would leave handwritten notes taped to the meals she delivered, urging colleagues to eat and take care of themselves. Her husband at the time, Michael Zinkofsky, captured her spirit in a simple observation: “She was very small, but so are hurricanes until they start.”
September 11, 2001, was meant to be Maxima’s final day on the job. Her daughter, Anjunelly Jean-Pierre, later revealed that Maxima had immigrated from the Dominican Republic and was married to Ajax Jean Pierre, a Haitian-born man. No remains were ever recovered, leaving the family without closure. Speaking to an outlet in 2021, Anjunelly reflected on the weight of uncertainty: “It always played on my mind. I thought, ‘What if they find something, then what?’ But I have to be OK with what it is.”
The Haitian Times’ remembrance comes at a moment when Haitians in the United States face renewed questions about their place in American society. By revisiting these stories—of workers, families, and survivors—the outlet underscores a fundamental truth: Haitians and their loved ones have long been woven into the fabric of American life, contributing their labor, their care, and their presence even in the darkest hours.
The September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks killed nearly 3,000 people across four coordinated attacks in New York, Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania. Among those who perished were immigrants from across the Caribbean and the world, many of whom worked in service industries in New York City. The attacks have remained a defining moment in American history and continue to shape national policy, security measures, and collective memory.
The story directly honors Haitian Americans and those with ties to Haiti who were killed or affected by 9/11, affirming their presence and contributions to American society at a time when Haitian immigrants face heightened scrutiny and questions about belonging in the United States. Their stories serve as a reminder of the deep roots Haitian communities have established in America and the sacrifices they have made.
Written & Edited by Orlyn Edwards. Published by Caribbean Air Force Media.
Category: Community · Island routing: Haiti