She Was the One

StoryCorps has won a 71st Annual George Foster Peabody Award for our September 11 audio and animated shorts.

When Richie Pecorella met Karen Juday, she captured his heart and changed his life. They were engaged and living together in Brooklyn when Karen was killed in the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, where she worked as an administrative assistant. Here, Richie remembers Karen, his love and inspiration.

Directed by: The Rauch Brothers
Art Direction: The Rauch Brothers & Bill Wray
Animation: Tim Rauch
Producers: Mike Rauch, Lizzie Jacobs & Isaac Kestenbaum
Audio Produced by: Katie Simon & Michael Garofalo
Supervising Sound Recordist: Laura Spero
Music: Fredrik
Label: The Kora Records
Publisher: House of Hassle

Funding provided by:
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting
National Endowment for the Arts

In partnership with POV.

[broadwaymelody]

He just passed away recently. I think he did enough good to make it up there.

[wukanimation]

"I will see you again. I will do enough good to make it up there."

Here's hoping you did.
RIP to both of you.

[ProjectXA]

"I will do enough good to make it up there." There's tears in my eyes.

[GerblerM]

Fuck me... I come back every so often to watch this video again, and the line "I will do enough good to make it up there" devastates me every time.

[TerryMun]

Richard was one the first who braved his emotions to tell his story after the 9/11 attacks, and with his willingness to come forward, he spurred many others to share their narratives on the day that changed not only America, but the world.

Richard passed suddenly on Feb 10, 2016 :( I am sure, Richard, for all the contributions you have done, you've accumulated more than enough good to be up there with her.

RIP.

[AngelKay]

I was sorry to hear of Richie's passing earlier this year, but I'm not sad for him. He and Karen are together again.

[AGPArchivist]

I'm not religious in any way, but I know in my heart that Richard and Karen are somehow together again...

[didjargo]

"I miss her eyes"
I choked up on that line.

[limestorm]

“I can see the twin towers”
NO I SEE WHERE THIS IS GOING NO NO NO NO NO

[ItsNicola]

This broke my heart... Always tell the people you love you love them. Everyday

[Pootypatooty]

How to make someone bawl in 3 minutes or less

[thaliaramos]

All the “Karens” need your take an example from the best Karen and sweetest one of all time

[mackenziehamilton]

I just remembered my mother showing me this video a few years back because I had no idea it existed. Karen was my great aunt, and I was too young to remember her if I did meet her. I don’t remember Uncle Richie very much since we never took trips to New York after, but I know he never stopped for her. He was a sweet man from the stories I’ve heard from my parents, and I’m so thankful knowing they are together again.

[tdproductions]

"I will do enough good to make it up there."
I heard he passed away a few years ago. I'm glad they're together again. RIP Karen and Richard Pecorella

[brodyc]

Every few months I see myself coming back to this video, by this point I expect it but still every time I hear "I will do enough good to make it up there." it chokes me up. After hearing he died earlier this year I truly hope he did enough good.

[timberwolf]

Poor guy!
R.I.P Richard
At least he's in heaven with his wife

[thema]

Today was the *23* year anniversary of when Richie lost Karen! He died nearly a decade ago. May they both continue to rest in peace! 😞

[ShammyWoWLoL]

This isn't about the war, this isn't about the conspiracy. This is about the innocent lives that were lost and the hero's who saved alot of innocent lives guys. Go somewhere else with your war/conspiracy debates. We're here to mourn the innocent who were killed, and remember the hero's who responded to the call and went in.

[WingsaberE]

“I will do enough good to make it up there” the weight in that you hear he doesn’t care about anything else in heaven except her, and hits hard.

[Blane]

Lost it. When he explained how terrified and trembled he was, I just lost it. The ending made it worse. This is very sad. Hope he is strong. My heart goes out to you my man.