9/11 Stories: FDNY Widow Patty Hess & Daughter Kimberly Hess

Patty Hess comes from a family of firefighters. Her Dad was a firefighter. So was her husband, Robert, known as Bobby, with whom she was raising 4 children: a 1 year old; 3 year old twins and an 8 year old daughter, on September 11th, 2001. Newly promoted to Lieutenant, Bobby had swapped shifts with Captain Thomas Farino, who became one of the 343 FDNY’ers killed that day. Bobby wanted the morning and afternoon off because he & Patty were re-doing the kitchen in their small home in Marine Park, Brooklyn. In fact, when the first plane hit The North Tower, Bobby and Patty were awaiting the arrival of firefighter friends, who offered to help do the kitchen work. Bobby told his wife, “Maybe I should go in early”. Patty remembers advising him, “Why don’t you take the kids to school (it was the first day of pre-school for the twins). They’re (the firefighters) are going to need relief later”. Patty says had he gone in early, he probably would have died because he likely would have been in one of the buildings when they collapsed.

Marine Park, Brooklyn was home to so many FDNY’ers, the joke was, if your house was on fire, 10 firemen would show up with garden hoses to fight it. Heading out the door, Bobby linked up with several other FDNY’ers, collected their gear from a local firehouse, and then commandeered a city bus to take them to the World Trade Center.

Patty didn’t see Bobby again until the next day. When he got off the bus, the whites of his eyes were totally pink. A neighbor brought out her daughter’s C-Pap machine to help him breath. Patty says her husband was never the same, suffering from PTSD. Lieutenant Bobby Hess contracted a rare 9/11 cancer 9 years later. He died from surgical complications a month after diagnosis.

On September 11th, Patty & Bobby’s daughter, Kimberly, was in the 3rd grade class , when children began to be pulled out, one by one. Not knowing why, the rumor was they all had head lice. When Kimberly’s mom showed up, Kimberly was one of just 3 kids left in class. She remembers her mom crying in the hall, and asked her, “Mommy. Mommy, do I have head lice too?” Kimberly remembers spending the rest of the day playing with neighborhood kids outside. They were making a game of all the papers flying in the air from 42 miles away from The World Trade Center. Who could collect the most? One kid thought he was rich, grabbing a charred business check for $5,000.

[californiahiker]

Thank you Mrs Hess and daughter for telling your stories! I know it was painful to do so. It’s important to hear from people who weren’t in the towers, but we’re affected anyway. It makes the rest of the world understand the bigger picture of NY and surrounding areas that day. You made sacrifices nobody should have to make. Best wishes to you and your beautiful daughter!

[Tom]

I'm so sorry that your husband and dad died of the 9/11 cancer! God Bless you! He helped so many!

[carolethorn]

So real. I love this one. Their story is a little different in the way they tell it - from a young family's perspective. Details of life from the surrounding communities - the neighborhood kids making a game of finding the papers, the kitchen remodel delays, sitting on the stoop and then even school head lice! I loved this very touching, very warm addition to the BIG story. 20 years and it seems like only yesterday sometimes.

[artrobert]

These stories are so important. Thank you for sharing.

[imshaehen]

I am sorry for your loss...xoxox from Dallas Texas ❤️❤️❤️

[kathleenwindsor]

I remember the smell and smoke too. The day went from those beautiful blue skies to looking like a bad storm was blowing through. My kids brought home burnt papers too. Tragic day.

[wandarask]

The poor mother-in-law, her heart would be in so much pain, knowing her son went to help so many people.
Well done" mother, -in-law you should be so proud of your son .
Bless you .

[LLandP]

Your story is gut wrenching. God bless you.

[scooter]

These are really nice. It’s a great way to remember the people from that day.

[alison]

I'm watching the daughter while mom talks lol Daughter is used to mom talking lol

[paulabrown]

I loved hearing this daughters experience. 🦋

[MSE]

Wow what a traumatic experience. So sorry for your loss. ❤️🙏🏼

[wandarask]

The daughter is a beautiful young lady, beautiful long dark hair and more.
My apologies if I am off track !
I do hope you can find someone special, to talk too, your Dad's, mum sounds like a special lady, maybe you could find comfort, and wisdom from I'm sure.
Your Dad is a real hero .
Take care I wish you all the best .x
Go mother-in-laws x

[dianemitchell]

I feel so sorry for the daughter bc of her lack of emotion during her mother’s story. This is not normal to hold all the emotions down like she didn’t want to feel anything. I have heard that a lot of the children of 9-11 suffered from ptsd. Bless both these women.

[sherryirbvin]

So tragic. So sorry for ur loss. May God bless and keep u.

[packisbetter]

I was in 5th grade and 11 years old that day. I lived in Indianapolis area but my school story was similar. I remember it was 75 80 degrees sunny there too and didn't go out for recess and I do remember some kids leaving even there. I never found out what was going on until I got home. They hid it really well

[Littlescienceguy]

The story about the papers, and especially the $5k check, got me the most. I wonder who and which firm it belonged to. I always wondered about the fallout from the smoke and floating papers downwind.

[CandiceGoddard]

First to suffer the loss of so many friends and community and then for it to take the father and husband too? It's so much for the human heart to bear. It just goes to show how far reaching 9/11 was. How devastating in so many ways, big, small and long term. It's no wonder the entire world changed.

[MK-kqlm]

I like how you collected things, you seem like you got very curious as a little one. We were all kinda like that i think, but I know it means a lot more to you to investigate.

[karenmbbaxter]

Not that it makes up for the loss of a parent but that the father got another 10 years of life before succumbing to a 9/11 created cancer is somewhat of a blessing.