In which I help find Don.

Image by wallyg via Flickr

On September 11, 2001, blogger Sarah Bunting had a business meeting in Manhattan.  As she sought safety and made her way toward home, she became "disaster buddies" with a man named Don. To this day, she wants to buy him a beer and thank him for helping her keep it together -- but he is nowhere to be found.

From her site:

What Don Looks/Looked Like
Don is an African-American man. I would estimate his age at between 25 and 35 on that day — probably not younger than that; possibly older, but not much. That means he's 30-ish to 40 now.

Don is between 5'9" and 6' tall, and probably weighed 160-180 pounds. (I suck at estimating men's weights.) In any case, at that time Don had a fit build — not pudgy, not skinny, well put-together.

Don had short hair and a goatee at that time. I do not recall any jewelry; he may have worn a watch, I don't remember. No glasses.

Don had on a grey windowpane-plaid suit and was carrying a black soft-sided briefcase.

Don didn't really resemble anyone famous, except Blair Underwood around the eyes a little bit.

Other Possibly Relevant Facts
Don and I met in the lobby of the Bank of New York building, located roughly at Wall Street and Broadway. We left the bank together at approximately 11 that morning.

Don lived at that time in Jersey City, or thereabouts — he took the ferry to Jersey City to get home, from a slip somewhere around Hester Street on the west side.

Don had come into the city that morning via the PATH train, and had gotten off at the World Trade Center stop. He had come into the city for work, but I don't remember whether his business that day was actually at the WTC complex; I don't believe it was. If he had gotten separated from any work colleagues, he didn't mention it. I don't know what he did for a living, and I don't know if his job was based in Jersey City or in lower Manhattan, but I got the impression that he was in the city for an errand or meeting, and that he didn't regularly commute in

As I said, I don't recall a wedding ring; Don did not mention a wife or any other family at that time as far as I can remember.

Don's birthday is September 11. No idea what year, but based on my estimate of his age it's probably in the late sixties or seventies.

Do you know anything about Don?  I would say let me know (it would be awesome to be the person who found him!), but Operation Find Don is Sarah's baby, so let her know if you have any leads or suggestions -- but be sure to read the comments, because she's looked under a lot of rocks already.

Read more:
At That Time (2010)
Operation Find Don (2009)
OFD goes global (2009) -- Sarah is interviewed on BBC Americana (you may not be able to listen anymore).
OFD on WNYC (2009) -- Sarah is interviewed on The Takeaway.
Angels in America (2008)
Beliefs (2007)
An American Tune (2006)
All Is Not Lost (2005)
Still Here (2004)
Scents Memory (2003)
The Fastest Year (2002)
For Thou Art With Us (2001)
Dispatches (2001)
Stay the Same (2001)

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