Give a Little, Get a Little

From Remember: September 11, 2001

Mark A. Brisman

World Trade Center


Give a Little, Get a Little

Could they have had less in common?

She was an actress with traveling in her toes, an adventurous career in her dreams. He was stiff, proper Dudley Do-right. By age 5, he had mapped out his life: lawyer, wife in the suburbs, raising their kids. When Juliette Steuer met Mark Brisman, he was 19 going on 40.

The relationship worked, because sometimes opposites prod each other in the best ways. He gave her stability; she loosened him up. He managed to jump in a few fountains at college, and she married him, moved to Westchester and stayed home with their two young children.

Meanwhile, back at the office — Harris Beach, a law firm with a branch on the 85th floor of 2 World Trade Center — Mr. Brisman, 34, worked exhaustively, for his family's sake. If he was seen as old-fashioned in his treatment of women (as delicate flowers who need protection), he was also regarded as a can-do, meticulous guy, supersmart and assured. He was awarded his long- sought partnership posthumously.

He knew himself. "I'm not a babe magnet," he said. "I'm a baby magnet." Formal with adults, he whooped freely with small people, especially his own. A snapshot from Labor Day weekend: Mr. Brisman playing happily with children, his tall frame folded into a kiddie airplane at Adventureland.

Profile published in THE NEW YORK TIMES on December 9, 2001.

"Acre in the sky."

On the morning of Spetember 11, 2001, high up, on the 85th floor of 2 World Trade Center, the law firm of Harris Beach, LLP was hard at work. The firm was still weeks away from completing the renovation of its new offices here. As they said in their brochures, "We're expanding our services. And the view." The $4 million renovation would be well worth it, and leaders of the firm referred to the new offices as their "acre in the sky."

From the ABA Journal:

"We believed this was our future, this big beautiful building," says litigation partner Abbie Fuchs. "You could see forever and we'd be there forever."

Working that morning, up on the 85th floor, was Mark A. Brisman. An associate of the Harris Beach firm, the 34-year-old resident of Armonk, NY, had just recently been nominated to become a partner in the firm.

After the plane hit 1 World Trade Center an attempt was made to clear the offices of Harris Beach, by Andrew Zucker, an attorney at Harris Beach.

The ABA Journal article continues:

Immediately after the first plane hit, Zucker—who had trained for a year as a volunteer firefighter in his hometown of North Massapequa, N.Y.—recognized the threat and walked through the halls with attorney Julissa Gomez and secretary Anne Pampinella, telling people to leave the building.

Once they reached an emergency exit, Pampinella "tried to stop Andrew Zucker, but he returned to the office, apparently to make sure that Joanne Weil and Mark Brisman evacuated," according to the report. Ultimately, the investigator could not determine whether the five Harris Beach employees were killed on the floor, on the stairs or at the express elevator landing on the 78th floor when the second plane hit at 9:03, taking out floors 77 through 85.

Five people working at the offices that morning were lost. Among them Mark A. Brisman, soon to be a partner in the firm.

My Thoughts

Surf the Internet, looking for the names of the lost, the murdered, of 9/11 and you will easily find the lists. Long, seeming endless lists of the names of the victims. Sometimes with their age, hometown, even place of business. But little else.


Fashioning a Tribute to these people can be tough. Because of the pain of the grieving survivors it’s understandable that they may not wanted to refresh the pain by posting online memories of their loved ones.


I never knew Mark Brisman. I can’t see any circumstance where I would ever meet him, or his family. But, as I’ve said before, he was my Brother, because he was an American. His family’s loss is mine, too.


I wish I could have found more information about Mark to let you know just what kind of young man he was. From the little I did find he seems to have been exceptional. Maybe some friend of his, or even a family member, will stumble on this small tribute to Mark and add some information. Maybe a few pictures, too.


Until then I can only say that I will miss this young lawyer, Mark Brisman; I will miss this young American, Mark Brisman; I will miss this young Father, Mark Brisman; I will miss this friend that I never knew: Mark Brisman.


GOD Bless him and his Loved Ones!

Memories Of Mark Brisman

From Mark Brisman's Guestbook at Legacy.com:

December 08, 2001
I had the fortunate opporunity to work with Mark this summer at Harris Beach. He was not officially my mentor, but he took on that role. He came into my office many afternoons, sat down in the chair next to my desk, and asked "how's it going?"
As I begin my career as an attorney, and throughout my years, I will remember what Mark has taught me abut being a great attorney and a great person. I am thankful that I had the opportunity to know such a great man.
My thoughts and prayers go out to the Brisman family.

sincerely,

Daniel Kaufman
~
Daniel Kaufman,
Brooklyn, New York
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

January 15, 2002
Mark, I'll always remember you as the "baby magnet". At our cousin's bat mitzvah, you swooped my two-year-old and four-year-old up in your arms and carried them to the dance floor. They danced and chased you around with big smiles on their faces. They didn't really know their cousin Mark or how you were related, but you were the Pied Piper to them.

Your hearty laugh and huge hugs will always be remembered by all the children who knew you--especially your own.
~
Deborah Kotz,
Silver Spring, Maryland
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

February 17, 2002
I met Mark (and his wife Juliet) back in 1988 while I was at Hofstra University. We had some great times all hanging out together...You even set me up on that blind date back in the day....I feel very fortunate to have met your acquaintance. Mark I just read all the wonderful things that others had to say about you. How true... You also made an impression on me, as a "do gooder"...and a caring special person...May god watch over Juliet and your two children...
~
Ellen Josephson,
Newport, Rhode Island
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

August 11, 2002
Mark and I were best friends throughout elementary school and junior high school. He was a loyal friend with a solid character and was unflappable during the minor dramas that make us all grow up.

He and I lost touch later in life but when we met again at a friend's wedding I was reminded of what I knew about him as a child. Mark was the kind of person you wanted to be near when the chips were down and you needed a buddy. That solid character appears to have carried him well through life. It is tragic beyond words that his children will not have him by their side in the years to come. I am know they carry a bit of his character within them and, like us all, are better people for having had him in their lives.

My deepest condolences to his family.

~
David Flum,
Seattle, Washington
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

August 27, 2004
I was intoduced to Mark and Juliette and when they were looking for a home. Mark especially wanted to be in a neighborhood full of kids. It is no surprise they chose a house next to a school. Well spoken, soft spoken and always a gentleman. Absolutely loved his wife and adored his kids.
Colleen
~
Colleen Gallagher,
Armonk, New York
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

January 16, 2007
Mark was not just my mentor when I was a young Associate at Lester, Schwab, Katz & Dwyer and Harris Beach. He was also a good and loyal friend. He looked out for me and guided me through the many challenges of the practice. I learned a great deal from him, not just about the practice of law, but also about what it means to be a mensch. Mark loved his family more than anything. I know that I was incredibly lucky to have him as a mentor and friend for 2 1/2 years.
~
Lisa Axelrod Jaffee,
New York, New York

Now here's a memory that is particualrly sad, but brave, too:

May 30, 2002
Today is May 30, 2002. The ceremony closing the recovery effort just ended.

Mark and I worked together for almost four years at Lester Schwab Katz & Dwyer. We were not merely colleagues, but also friends. I was at his apartment the weekend Rachael came home from the hospital. We took our kids apple picking together at Dr. Davies farm in Rockland (Juliette, I have pictures and video if you want them).

Our office windows face directly on ground zero. Initially, we all looked out regularly hoping that somehow Mark would be found alive and well. After Mark's memorial, we just hoped that he would be found at all.

Now, more than eight months later, I cannot shake the sense of loss. Mark was a great guy. Not just a great lawyer, son, husband or father, but a great guy. Ethics, morality, honor, he lived by all of these ideals. First and foremost, however, all he wanted in life was to provide for his family as best he could. He worked tirelessly towards that end.

He left our firm in mid-2000. Our friendship was compromised by his departure, and, for complicated reasons, I took his leaving as a personal affront. He tried to keep the lines of communications open, and even went to the trouble of lining up a professional speaking opportunity for me. I remained angry with him notwithstanding his efforts, and did not reciprocate. In hindsight, I wish that I had viewed his leaving differently, and kept our relationship close.

Mark was one of the good guys, he didn't deserve to die so young, with so much ahead of him.

The recovery effort has closed, but Mark will not be forgotten.
~
Carl Schaerf,
Livingston, New Jersey

You can read more at Mark's Legacy.com Guestbook.