Most students at Stamford High are too young to remember the tragic events that took place on 9/11. For those who lived through it, though, the memories are still clear. To commemorate the date this year, The Round Table spoke to several faculty members who do remember that day, and asked them what they remember about it.

Frank Russo, a security guard at SHS, recalls learning about the horrific events occurring in Manhattan. “I had to have some keys made. I walked into Karps, was getting the keys made, and someone said the plane crashed.” Russo returned to school and gathered in the library with several other teachers and students to watch the news. “I was watching the smoke and I saw the second plane hit. It was horrible.”

“Parents came to get their kids out of school,” remembers science teacher Jamie VanAcker. He recounts going on a camping trip after the attack and seeing the surreal aftermath of the attacks. “I went down to Sherwood Island saw the plume of smoke over Manhattan.”

Physical education and health teacher Richard Lacomis was also at school when he first learned about the incident. “I was in the P.E. office when a kid came down to say what happened. I thought it was a joke. When I saw the news, it was one of those things that I just couldn’t believe.”

Other faculty members were not teaching here at SHS that day.

History teacher Gina Figliuzzi was a junior at the University of Delaware when the attack started. Figluizzi said,  “I was in a political science seminar. My professor’s cell phone was going off and she was apologizing because it went off like 300 times. We didn’t even know.” Figliuzzi did not learn about the tragedy until she returned home later that day. “I walked into my house and one of my roommates had the news on and she was crying. I remember that my dad had a client [in New York]. I went crazy trying to get a hold of him. I remember crying until I found out he was okay.”

SHS strength coach David Caplan clearly remembers where he was when he heard the news and the stress he felt. “I was home panicking because my wife was in the city. I was watching it on TV. She called me when the first plane hit. I try not to think about it.”