41 pages • 1 hour read
Jim Dwyer, Kevin Flynn102 Minutes
Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 2005A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Key Figures
Frank De Martini
A Brooklyn resident and Trade Center construction manager, De Martini joined the Port Authority to make improvements to the trade center buildings after the 1993 bombing. De Martini was fascinated by the World Trade Center, loved sailing, and loved his children. He once chased down an armed mugger. He was a man not afraid of confrontation, and had once argued with firefighters who tried to access his Brownstone roof when putting out a fire at De Martini’s neighbor’s home. He chased down folks who littered on the streets of New York. De Martini lost his life as he continued to go upwards in the tower, rescuing others.
Chief Joe Pfiefer
Pfiefer was the first fire chief to enter the World Trade Center on 9/11 and setup a command post in the north tower. Pfiefer is calm in the face of extreme devastation and helps thousands evacuate the building. From Queens, he joined the agency in 1981. Pfiefer’s care for his fellow firefighters, including his brother, who was killed in the attacks, characterize the heroic efforts of the FDNY that morning.
Everyday People
Throughout 102 Minutes, the rescue efforts of everyday employees are documented. Their improvisation and quick-thinking, refusal to accept death, and refusal to leave friends behind shows the mettle and heroism of the common citizen in the face of disaster and tragedy. Without their stories, the details of the day would be lost, and the lessons of the suffering and how to improve safety measures in high-rises might be meaningless.
