Twenty-five years after the tragic events of September 11, 2001, Kimmy Chedel reflects on the enduring memory of her husband, Frank Doyle, who lost his life in the World Trade Center that day. At the time of his death, their children, Zoe and Garrett, were just two and one years old, respectively. Chedel's journey of remembrance is filled with love, courage, and the pursuit of keeping Doyle's legacy alive.
Chedel recounts the moment she met Frank Doyle in New York, describing it as “love at first sight.” She recalls his name tag getting stuck to her shoe, leading to a charming encounter that blossomed into a meaningful relationship. “He was funny, kind, caring. He was gorgeous,” she said, reminiscing about the beginnings of their life together, which included a marriage and the birth of their two children in Englewood, New Jersey.
However, everything changed on September 11, 2001, as Chedel remembers the fateful moment she learned about the terrorist attacks. “I know exactly where I was 25 years ago and how perfect our life was,” she reflected. After hearing about a plane hitting the World Trade Center, she quickly turned her car around to return home, struggling to steady her shaking hands as she tried to unlock the front door.
In an emotional phone call, Chedel reached her husband at work, where he shared the chaos unfolding around him. “He said, if you think we got rocked in '93, this was 10 times worse. He said, Kimmy, I was thrown to the floor.” This reference alluded to their prior experience during the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, which shaped how he responded that day. Chedel initially felt relief when they connected, but that relief was short-lived as tragedy struck again with the second plane hitting the South Tower at 9:03 a.m., where Doyle was located.
During their last communication, Chedel recalls Doyle's deliberate words, “I need you to listen carefully. I’ve gone up to the rooftop; the rooftop doors are locked. He said, ‘We’re trapped on the 87th floor. It’s getting difficult to breathe.’” In that moment, Chedel could hear the terrifying sounds around him—people coughing, a girl crying, glass shattering. Doyle’s urgent request was poignant: he wanted her to promise to tell their children how much he loved them. Chedel now understands that this was his way of saying goodbye.
Doyle's final call was made at 9:22 a.m., just minutes before the South Tower collapsed at 9:59 a.m. Frank Doyle was only 39 years old. Weeks later, his remains were identified through dental records, but for Chedel, the recovery process was far from over. “I got seven calls over the next three-and-a-half years,” she shared tearfully, detailing how each call brought news of more of his remains being found, which was an ongoing struggle while raising two young children.
Despite her deep sorrow, Chedel focused on providing a sense of normalcy for Zoe and Garrett. “I was struggling, I was 37 years old with two babies, but I made sure that they never saw me cry,” she explained. At night, after tucking them in, she would let her tears flow, vowing to keep living for her children. “It was just really important for me to know that they would look back on their childhood and realize that we just kept living, because that’s what Frank would want us to do,” she said.
In the years following Doyle's death, Chedel ensured that his memory would endure in their children's lives. She turned his passion for sports into a lasting legacy by founding Team Frank Africa in Montreal in 2017. This organization has successfully supported 19 schools across South Africa, with aspirations for many more. Chedel takes pride in her husband's legacy, believing that he would be proud of the initiatives and the love that continues to flow through their family.
