She was 40 years old, lived in Bellport, NY and worked for Forte Food Service on the 101st floor of the North Tower (Tower 1) at the World Trade Center. She died on Sept. 11th. However, those are just the statistics.
“In spite of her maximum name, Ms. Jean-Pierre was not tall and gorgeous. She was short and gorgeous, about 5-foot-4, a size 2. But when she walked into the 105th floor executive offices of Cantor Fitzgerald, watch out. ‘She was very small, but so are hurricanes until they start,’ said her husband, Michael Zinkofsky.” (1)
Maxima was known as “Nelly” to her friends. (2) She was a bright, energetic woman, full of compassion and encouragement. Her daughter, Anjunelly Gartrell, wrote the following: My Mother Maxima Jean-Pierre was loved by all who met her. She did so much for many people who didn’t have anything. If you were going through something, you knew you could count on her smile and words of encouragement to get you through it. She was always ready to help anyone in need without any questions. For those who knew her will miss her dearly, but can live her memory through her family. (3)
“In spite of her maximum name, Ms. Jean-Pierre was not tall and gorgeous. She was short and gorgeous, about 5-foot-4, a size 2. But when she walked into the 105th floor executive offices of Cantor Fitzgerald, watch out. ‘She was very small, but so are hurricanes until they start,’ said her husband, Michael Zinkofsky.” (1)
Maxima was known as “Nelly” to her friends. (2) She was a bright, energetic woman, full of compassion and encouragement. Her daughter, Anjunelly Gartrell, wrote the following: My Mother Maxima Jean-Pierre was loved by all who met her. She did so much for many people who didn’t have anything. If you were going through something, you knew you could count on her smile and words of encouragement to get you through it. She was always ready to help anyone in need without any questions. For those who knew her will miss her dearly, but can live her memory through her family. (3)
Maxima cared most about her family, but she cared about those she worked for too. When she saw an executive at Cantor-Fitzgerald wasn’t eating, she would take a plate of food to him with a note, “Please eat this. You might get sick. When I come back, it better be gone.” They always ate it (4)
Her daughter was right, everyone who met her, loved Maxima Jean-Pierre.
We who are left can be encouraged by Maxima’s life. We can find ways to care for those around us, just like Maxima did. In so doing, we’ll keep her memory alive.
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