We decided to mimic the New York Times “ Profiles In Grief” series for the more than 30 Rutgers alumni murdered on 9/11. I spent a month finding and contacting family members  and friends and another month interviewing and writing. Sometimes friends or relatives on the other end of the phone would break down in the middle of a story or a memory .

We asked for images and keepsakes to dress the story, and people were very generous . I think we all found the project cathartic to some degree. In the months that followed, the feedback was overwhelming. I'm as proud of this story as I am of anything in my career — and wish that the need for this assignment had never occurred.