Journal Contents
September 11 Family Group is a non-profit 501(C)(3) organization, founded in 2002 by the families of September 11th victims to preserve the memory of our loved ones and that tragic time of American history. We are the parents and grandparents, children, sisters and brothers, spouses and friends of those whose life journeys were stopped by evil.
We got together to commemorate our loved ones and prevent that tragedy from happening again. The mission of our group is to memorialize victims and honor our fallen uniformed heroes, to celebrate our unity and life, to protect American freedom. We strongly believe that the memory about the September 11 tragedy helps young Americans develop their ability to stand up for our freedom, and together with the upcoming generations, defend our spiritual wealth in the long running battle with barbarism.
On November 24, 2002 we started our mission by planting the Whipping willow tree in Asser Levy Park. After the tree planting, with the support of NYC Department of Parks and Recreation we build the September 11 Memorial Square around that tree. It was completed and opened to the public in 2005. It serves now as a place of reflection for many Brooklynites. Every year in September we organize public Memorial ceremony in the Square. The event brings hundreds of people as well as city and state officials.
Unfortunately some family members who passed away, are not with us anymore, but the new born are a wonderful addition to our extended family. And we hope, that new generation, will continue our mission – never forget the lives lost on September 11, 2001 and do everything possible to prevent the tragedy of 9/11 from happening again.
The September 11 Family Group emerged from the tragedy to provide 9/11 families the comfort, support and strong voice they required in assisting them with grief, pain and healing process that comes from losing someone very dear, to a cowardly act of terrorism. Our organization is a vital testament that we as New Yorkers are strong, and resilient, when we stand together.
A QUARTER-CENTURY OF RESILIENCE & GOOD DEEDS
Honoring 9/11 Victims
25 Years Later: Love, Remembrance, and the Resilience
There are dates that live on a calendar.
And there are dates that live in our souls.
September 11, 2001, is one of those dates.
For a generation born after 2001, 9/11 is history. It is a chapter in a textbook, a documentary, a lesson in school. They have no memory of the world that existed before that day—a world before airport security lines, before terrorism became part of everyday conversation, before we learned how quickly ordinary lives can be shattered.
For those of us who lived through it, 9/11 was not simply a historical event. It was a dividing line between "before" and "after."
History is marked by moments that change the course of humanity: Pearl Harbor, the assassination of President Kennedy, the fall of the Berlin Wall. September 11th joined that list. It altered how nations think, how governments act, and how people view the world.
But for us, it was never about history.
It was personal.
It was the last goodbye that wasn't known to be the last.
The phone call that never came.
The empty seat that remains at every holiday table.
While I was not among those who lost a loved one that day, my life and that of my late husband, Jon, were forever changed by the privilege of knowing those who did.
For twenty-five years, I have watched extraordinary families carry unimaginable loss with grace, dignity, and resilience. I have witnessed pain that never disappears, only becomes part of the fabric of everyday life. And I have witnessed something else: the determination to ensure that those who were lost would never be forgotten.
Memory is sacred.
Every scholarship, every memorial, every story told, every act of kindness performed in their names is a declaration that their lives mattered and continue to matter.
The terrorists succeeded in taking lives. They failed to erase them.
Twenty-five years later, that is your legacy.
Not only remembrance, but resilience.
Not only grief, but love.
Not only loss, but the extraordinary family that emerged from it.
It has been one of the greatest privileges of my life to walk beside you and to call you my extended family.
May we continue to remember. May we continue to tell their stories. And may we never forget that while history records how they died, it is our responsibility to ensure that future generations know how they lived.
With love and gratitude,
Leader Family
September 6, 2026
September 11th Family Group
Asser Levy Park
302 Sea Breeze Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11224
Dear Chairman Roman Gertsberg,
It has been 25 years since the September 11, 2001 attacks that claimed thousands of innocent lives. Yet for the families and friends of those murdered on that day, the grief is still as present as ever.
The September 11th Family Group, led by Chairman Roman Gertsberg, has worked tirelessly in the years since to preserve the memories of their loved ones, whose lives were wrongfully and cruelly taken from this world by evil terrorists. Chairman Gertsberg's story is one that so many in our district know well. Like so many of our neighbors, Mr. Gerstberg fled the former Soviet Union with his family in search of a better life, which he was able to build and then give to his daughter and only child, Marina. A bright and energetic young woman who was just getting her life started, Marina's future was taken from her far too soon.
Every member of the September 11th Family Group carries their own story of loss and grief. Together, this group does essential and sacred work to maintain the Memorial Square in Asser Levy Park, which displays a plaque commemorating 18 individuals from our community who perished in the attacks. The site also hosts a Memorial tree that was grown from a small pear sapling that miraculously survived the attacks and now serves as a symbol of resilience and hope.
It has been my deep honor, as Councilwoman of this district, to support the September 11th Family Group on their noble mission. I will continue to stand by the Family Group to the best of my abilities, working to maintain the cleanliness and sanctity of the Memorial site. I will also ensure that, within the bounds of our district, I speak with unwavering moral clarity, standing firmly against the murderous ideology that led to such attacks, and firmly with the grieving families, survivors, and all those who carry the weight of that day.
Sincerely,
September 6, 2026
September 11 Family Group
Dear Friends,
I want to offer my warmest greetings and sincere gratitude to the wonderful members of the September 11 Family Group on the solemn occasion of your 25th Anniversary 9/11 Memorial event.
To those old enough to remember 9/11, it is unbelievable that it has already been 25 years. Your group has taken the spark of light left behind by those we lost that day, and ensured it still shines brightly in South Brooklyn a quarter of a century later. This year as all years, we mourn the loss of thousands lives to the attacks themselves and related disease in the years since, and we reflect on the great evils that our human race is capable of inflicting on each other. But I strongly believe that, as our communities continue to gather in remembrance, love, and mutual support, we continue to show the very best we are capable of in our humanity on the anniversaries of this dreadful day. It is thanks to your group and others like it that our city has found a way to move forward, not in spite of but because of the memories of our lost loved ones. That is an incredible gift you have given to yourselves, to each other, and to people across our city.
For the work you do to remember and honor the fallen, and to uplift those members of our community whose grief will change over time but never disappear, I thank you. I am honored to join you in observation of the 25th Anniversary of 9/11, in gratitude for all you have accomplished and in support for all that you will accomplish in the future. Please accept my sincere appreciation upon this solemn milestone.
Sincerely,
September 6, 2026
Roman Gertsberg, Chairman
September 11 Family Group
Dear September 11 Family Group,
On the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, I join everyone in unity and respect as we once again gather to remember that terrible day and mourn the unimaginable loss that our Nation, City, and Southern Brooklyn community suffered. There will never be appropriate words that can erase the pain of losing nearly 3,000 innocent victims, nor is it possible to replace the empty space in our hearts and at our dinner tables, but we must honor the memory of those beautiful individuals by gathering as a community to remember the lives interrupted.
We lost our sons, our daughters, our parents, our grandparents, our relatives and neighbors, and 25 years later, the pain and sadness is as devastating as it was when we realized what happened. We remember the last hug and kiss and we turn that moment into a lifetime of memories as we choose love and respect over the hatred and violence that caused our suffering. As Americans, our greatest strength has always been our unity, and it is that unity that will always defeat the darkness of evil that came to our Nation on 9/11.
To the thousands we lost, to those who are listed on the September 11 Memorial at Asser Levy Park, and to those listed in downtown Manhattan and around our Nation, we know you cannot be here today, but we also know you will always be with us. We miss you, we love you, and we promise to never forget you. Whether it is 25 years, 50 years, or 100 years, we will always gather and let the world know how much we loved you and what you meant to us.
My profound gratitude to the September 11 Family Group and to Chairman Roman Gertsberg for all that you have done and continue to do to bring us together every year. I vow to always stand with you and all 9/11 families. May God bless each and every one of you.
Sincerely,
September 2026
September 11 Family Group
PO Box 350195
Brooklyn, NY 11235
Dear September 11 Family Group members,
On the 25th anniversary year of one of the darkest days in American history, I am joining you all as we hold those we lost in our memory. Thousands of souls left us on September 11th, 2001 and in its aftermath – many of whom we knew personally and loved deeply. On this anniversary, and every day since this tragedy on our soil, we remember those lost, their accomplishments, and the legacies that they left behind.
As we remember the thousands lost to an act of terror, we also remember the countless heroes lost to acts of courage and patriotism. Mothers and fathers, sons and daughters, friends, firefighters, police officers, medical professionals, and ordinary citizens who became extraordinary heroes. We mourn them, we miss them, and we owe them a debt of gratitude.
It is hard to find a New Yorker, these 25 years later, who was not impacted by this tragedy in some irreparable way, me and my family included. My Godfather Larry Sullivan was a part of Rescue 5 on Staten Island, and he unfortunately, like so many of our heroes, passed away due to 9/11 related illnesses years later.
This September, as we gather in reflection and commemoration, I think of him and so many others like him. As we stand together in remembrance, we must also honor the men and women in uniform who have served and continue to serve to protect our freedoms and keep us safe.
From the bottom of my heart: thank you to the September 11 Family Group, led by Roman Gertsberg, for keeping these memories and stories alive. As we gather annually at Asser Levy Park, we remember that we are stronger united. If you or your families ever need any assistance from me or my office, please do not hesitate to reach out via spanton@nysenate.gov or at 718-484-3216.
Sincerely,
Memories
Kept Alive
by Those
Who Loved
Them
Those We Remember
THE VICTIMS
To my mom, Inna Basin
I hope you are proud of our family.
I hope you are always smiling at your amazing grandchildren as well.
We will never forget who you were and how much you loved us all.
I will never forget the lessons you taught me and the love you showed us.
It was a blessing to have had you in our lives!
You were the best mother, wife, friend, and person.
We love you forever!
— Boris Basin, son of Inna Basin
To our son, Gennady Boyarsky
September 11, 2001 — a date that split our lives into "before" and "after."
Our family's story is one shared by so many immigrants from the former USSR. Forty-eight years ago, my husband and I left Lviv with our two children, Gena and Beata, carrying nothing but hope for a better life in America. Gena grew up, graduated from New York College, and built a career at American Express. In 1993, he married Yolanta, and not long after, they welcomed a son, Michael, into the world.
Twenty-five years have now passed since the tragedy of September 11th took our son, Gennady Boyarsky, from us. Time has softened nothing— this wound remains as raw today as it was then. Grief like this does not fade; it simply becomes part of how we carry on.
Life has continued in the ways Gena would have wanted. Michael grew up, married, and now has a daughter of his own, who will soon start school— a new generation carrying his father's name and spirit forward. Gena loved his sister Beata deeply; he was always her champion, her steady support, the brother she could lean on.
We hold onto the brightest memories of our son— his warmth, his devotion to family, the life he built with love. He is gone, but never forgotten.
I'm so sorry for the loss of your son. This is a moving tribute to him and to your family's journey.
— The Boyarsky Family
My nephew, Alexander Braginsky
Not only on the 25th anniversary of the horrific crime that stole so many innocent lives, but every single day, I want to speak and write about all those — without exception — who left us on that dark day. We remember them always, and we bow our heads to honor their memory.
Today, I, Nelly Braginskaya’s brother, dedicate these words to her son— her only, irreplaceable son— Alexander Braginsky.
He grew up without a father. Before the family moved to the USA, he and his mother struggled in order to survive on her nurse’s salary, as she worked two jobs, two shifts, just to keep them afloat. Even then — in seventh, eighth, nineth, tenth grade — he helped her in every way a boy could, including sitting for hours knitting the backs of woolen cardigans and sweaters by hand, so she could sell them at night to make ends meet in that hard life. He did it well. And every sweater was sold.
The other twists of that life don’t need retelling here— everyone who lived through those years knows about those difficulties. When Nelly and Alexander made the difficult decision to move to the USA on their own, it fell to me to care for our mother, who needed constant care and who, heartbroken by their departure, cried around the clock. She attempted to take her own life and was eventually hospitalized for a long time.
In America, Alexander wasted no time. He quickly understood his situation and enrolled in the most accessible New York State college, in a program built for students from poor, single-parent families. It was not a school that produced polished businessmen— it offered the basics, and at least a diploma. But he made himself. Within a few years of graduating, he mastered programming entirely on his own, and quickly succeeded. There was no one to guide him. He did everything by himself.
By the time my mother and I finally came to the USA, he met us in a fancy suit, full of pride, driving his own black Mercedes. That was Alexander: brilliant and utterly without pretense, who often visited the Twin Towers in Lower Manhattan on business.
That black day, in every sense, made no exception for him.
There are no more words that can follow this ...
— Eduard, the younger brother of his sister,
who now rests forever with her son.
Faina Rapoport
It is hard to believe that twenty-five years have passed since that terrible day in September that changed our lives forever and took from us our beloved Faina — a loving wife, devoted mother, and extraordinary woman whose presence filled our home with warmth, laughter, and love. Not a day goes by without us thinking of her. We remember her smile, her gentle heart, her boundless energy, and the way she made everyone around her feel loved and cared for. The loss of Faina left a void that can never truly be filled. Yet, as a family, we found strength in one another and learned to move forward together. The love she gave us became the foundation that carried us through our most difficult days and continues to guide us even now.
When tragedy struck, Faina's son Alex had recently graduated from college, and her daughter Elena was just beginning her second year. Today, Faina would be incredibly proud of the lives they have built. Alex and his wife, Irina, are raising three wonderful sons. Elena and her husband, Boris, have been blessed with two sons and a beautiful daughter. In each of them, we see reflections of Faina — her kindness, her strength, and her love of family.
Yuriy has found great joy in helping raise his grandchildren and sharing stories about the life he and Faina built together. Through those stories, the grandchildren have come to know their grandmother not only through photographs, but through the love, laughter, and memories that continue to live on in our family.
Keeping Faina's memory alive is one of the greatest gifts we can give to future generations that follow. We want our children and grandchildren to know who she was, how deeply she loved her family, and she continues to mean so much to all of us.
We have no doubt that Faina is watching over us. Her love remains a part of our lives, and her memory continues to be a source of comfort, strength, and inspiration. She will always be deeply loved, forever missed, and never forgotten.
— Your loving family
My brother, Vladimir Savinkin
25 years…a whole generation has now grown up post 9/11, and how the world has changed since then. For Vlad’s family, the dinner table looks a lot different than it did when he was with us. The head of the table, Vlad’s father, Valeriy Savinkin, a founder and integral member of September 11 Family Group, has joined his son in the heavens in 2017.
Valeriy even had a street named in his honor, for his dedication to his local Russian Jewish community and September 11 Family Group. Vlad’s younger sister, Galina, along with her husband, Vadim, have welcomed 3 sons, Victor, Evan, and Leo - two of which are named after Vlad and Valeriy, whom watch over their family on Earth. Valentina, mother of Vlad and wife of Valeriy, has become the proudest grandmother in the world. Vlad’s fiancée, Olya, has learned to thrive in a world without the young love of her life, and lives a busy life working as an art educator, taking care of her elderly mother, and going on many adventures and loving life with her boyfriend. Life has changed in many ways, older generations have passed, younger generations have come, but the memory of Vladik and Valera lives on in their relatives - in their hearts, in their genes, and in their souls.
— Galina
My son Alexander Lygin
When my son Sasha was born, it was an explosion of an inexhaustible reserve of tenderness and love inside myself.
I could never have imagined that all this love lived within me — it felt like a treasure chest with a secret code.
It wasn't that I had never been loved before. Simply I've never felt this way — it was unconditionally, boundlessly, to the very end.
He became the epicenter of my world,
but then he left... and he took that love with him.
For a long time, I was returning to all the places where we spent our days together. I tried to think that I will find him in one of those places.
I never believed that he was gone,
and each time, I had to face the same truth again — that I could not find my very best boy anywhere in this world anymore.
The places were empty.
There was no "us" anymore, no big family the way it once was.
Years later, I understood something important:
Life continues in my beautiful daughter, in my amazing grandchildren, and in the memory that never leaves me — not even for a minute.
And somehow, this emptiness that once felt unbearable has become a kind of support, a quiet companion.
I remember the day when all search for victims was completed, I screamed and howled like a wild beast.... I am still screaming but now only inside myself. He called me Mama for 28 years, and he is my Son forever.
— Valia Lygin
In Memory on Helen Belilovsky
Eugene Belilovsky, Son: What I miss most about my mom is her love and kindness. I still vividly remember the way she treated me and the special relationship we shared. Since 2001 I changed several careers and currently work as a counselor/therapist, a profession that I find deeply meaningful and rewarding. I believe that the events of September 11th may have influenced that path. Despite what happened that day, I have tried not to fall into a fearful way of living life. I believe that September 11th (as well as some other events in my life) inspired me to try to make the most of the time I am given, to live life fully, and to not postpone the things that are important to me. I also believe that September 11th may have contributed to my search for deeper answers about life, meaning, and purpose and helped start me on a journey rooted in Eastern spirituality that I continue to this day.
Ross Tisnovsky, Brother: Growing up with an older sister who was smarter, wiser, and more responsible meant living in her shadow; she was always the example of what to do and how to study. But after she emigrated to the US and I followed years later, our relationship transformed. That eight-year age gap became a beautiful asset. I grew to deeply appreciate her kindness, and her wisdom became my compass for life's most important decisions. This is what I miss most: her guidance. I still find myself standing at her grave, asking questions and hoping to hear the answers only she could provide. More than anything, I just really miss being her little brother.
Boris Beliolovsky, Husband: Not a day in my life goes by without thoughts of Yelena. The pain of losing her has softened with time, but the absence remains. What has changed most is that our life moved forward in ways we never expected, while always carrying her memory with us. I miss most everyday things—her smile, her voice, her kindness, and the comfort of having her by my side. Those memories continue to be a source of both sadness and strength. I have been blessed to have our son Eugene, whose life is a living reminder of Yelena. I have often seen Yelena in him – in his character and in his values. Through him, a part of her continues to live on, and I am deeply grateful for that. Although Yelena's life was cut tragically short, her love and the impact she had on those who knew her remain part of our lives.
Emma Tisnovsky, Mother: A quarter of a century has passed, but that terrible day stands before my eyes like yesterday, but the life goes on. Lenochka's son has become a grown man. My husband, her father, passed away, and there is no Lenochka near me – a clever, helpful, wise, the best daughter I could ever hope for, and I miss her very much.
To Lyudmila Ksido
In loving memory of our mother, grandmother, aunt, relative and friend. You were a wonderful wife and loving and dedicated daughter.
For twenty-five years we have tremendously missed you and not a day goes by that we don’t think of you and remember our time together. The void you left in our hearts will never be filled.
You were truly a special person — one this world has lost and will never replace. For us-you were everything and we will strive to make you proud. You will forever be in our hearts.
— Your Loving Family
Memorial Gallery
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Ceremony Color Guard
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Asser Levy Park Memorial
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Soccer Memorial Cup
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Brooklyn Memorial Ceremony
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Jon & Dina Leader
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Nelly, Mother of Alexander Braginsky
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Ceremonial Meeting
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Winterizing Weeping Willow Tree
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State Recognition
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9/11 Memorial Square in Brooklyn
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Ceremony Attendees
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Valia, Mother of Alex Lygin
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Husband of Faina Rapoport
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Flower Ceremony: Ari Kogan
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Nelly, Mother of Alex Braginsky
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Memorial Plaque
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Brooklyn Memorial Quartet
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School at Brooklyn Memorial
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Color Guard at Memorial
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Children's Team at Memorial
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Memorial Flower Ceremony
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9/11 Memorial in Brooklyn
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Memorial Ceremony Anthem
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College Students at Memorial
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City Official Ceremony Address
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Officers by 9/11 Brooklyn Memorial
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9/11 Brooklyn Memorial Plaque
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State Support Address
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Address From Jerusalem
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Color Guard
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Article in Vecrniy New York
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Anthem During The Ceremony
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Team at the Memorial Cup
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Brooklyn Ceremony
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Clergy Address at Memorial Service
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9/11 Brooklyn Memorial Plaque
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Marina Gertsberg, Ground Zero Memorial
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Ludmila Ksido, Ground Zero
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Memorial Candle Ceremony
