The tragic events of September 11, 2001, left an indelible mark on the world, but for the Haberman family of Kewaskum, Wisconsin, the pain of that day remains ever-present. Their daughter, Andrea Haberman, was among the thousands of victims who perished in the horrific terrorist attacks, but her family’s journey of grief and remembrance didn’t end with her death. Over two decades later, Andrea’s family continues to find pieces of her, thanks to the ongoing forensic work being carried out by the New York City Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.
In a recent segment on 60 Minutes, Andrea’s father, Gordon Haberman, shared the emotional and heart-wrenching story of his daughter’s death, the artifacts that were recovered from her purse, and the painstaking process of identifying her remains—remains that are still being found, over 23 years later.
Andrea Haberman, just 25 years old, was on the 92nd floor of the North Tower of the World Trade Center when the building was struck by American Airlines Flight 11. She was on her way to work, excited about her upcoming wedding and life ahead with her fiancé, Al. She had just been fitted for her wedding dress and was looking forward to starting a family of her own. Tragically, that future was stolen from her when the plane struck her building, and Andrea became one of the nearly 3,000 people who died that fateful day.
In the wake of her death, Gordon and his wife, Diane, were left to cope with the unimaginable pain of losing their daughter. Over the years, they have held onto every shred of hope that they could receive more information, more answers, about what happened to Andrea. One of the most poignant moments in their journey came when, seven years after the attacks, they received a package containing personal items that Andrea had with her on 9/11—her purse, her flip phone, and a pager. These items, which had been recovered from the wreckage, were locked away by Gordon for years, unopened, as he struggled to cope with the enormity of the loss.
“I couldn’t bring myself to open it,” Gordon recalled in the 60 Minutes interview. “It sat in a drawer for seven years. I didn’t want to face it. But when I finally did open it, I found her flip phone, pager, and a photo. The last photo taken of her. She was smiling, she had just been fitted for her wedding dress. She was going to do great things, have children, and be so proud of her life. It’s so hard to understand how it all ended.”
That moment—holding onto the last tangible items that belonged to Andrea—was just one chapter in a much longer process of grieving and seeking closure. Over the years, Gordon and his family have been notified sporadically when additional remains of Andrea have been discovered, sometimes in small pieces, often years apart. The process of identifying the remains of 9/11 victims has been a painstaking, slow, and emotional task. But for Gordon, each piece of Andrea that has been identified, while heartbreaking, offers a small sense of resolution.
It wasn’t until May of 2022 that the Haberman family was notified that the New York Medical Examiner’s Office had discovered the first piece of Andrea’s remains. The medical examiner’s office has continued to work tirelessly, using advanced forensic techniques such as DNA testing to identify remains from the 9/11 attacks. Shockingly, nearly a quarter-century after the attacks, about 40% of the victims’ remains have still not been identified. The ongoing forensic work remains a critical part of the process for providing families with the closure they desperately need.
“I needed to know; how could I not do that?” Gordon said, reflecting on the long wait for news. “Whatever we’ve done, compared to the horror she must have experienced that morning, is nothing. So, I consider it an obligation to keep being notified of pieces of her being found. We never gave up hope.”
In the years that followed, Gordon and his family received more updates as Andrea’s remains were identified in pieces. “Today they found 13 pieces of Andrea. When they found five pieces of Andrea cremated out in New York, we went out to pick them up. We had a memorial Mass on Ground Zero and a funeral at Ground Zero for Andrea,” Gordon shared. “It was one of the most emotional moments of our lives.”
The personal artifacts recovered from Andrea’s purse, along with these ongoing discoveries, have been a bittersweet reminder of the woman they lost. While the family is grateful for each new piece of Andrea they receive, it is impossible to ignore the pain that accompanies each discovery.
The Haberman family is not alone in their grief. Wisconsin was significantly impacted by the events of September 11, with 18 individuals from the state losing their lives in the attacks. These victims will soon be memorialized in a new monument dedicated to the Wisconsin residents who perished on 9/11. The Wisconsin 9/11 Memorial, spearheaded by Fuzz Martin, president of the Wisconsin 9/11 Memorial Board of Directors, is set to be unveiled in the spring, and will include tributes to the 18 Wisconsin victims, including Andrea Haberman.
Martin emphasized the importance of continuing to honor and remember the lives lost in the attacks. “It’s owed to those families, those people who were killed,” he said in an interview. “The work to identify remains and offer closure is not just about the past—it’s about honoring the lives of the people who meant so much to their families and their communities.”
For Gordon and his family, the Wisconsin 9/11 Memorial represents a vital part of their healing process, as it offers a space to remember Andrea and the other victims from their state. The memorial will ensure that the sacrifices made on that tragic day are never forgotten, and that future generations will understand the depth of the loss experienced by families like the Habermans.
Though the Haberman family’s journey of grief continues, they remain hopeful that the ongoing forensic efforts will eventually help provide full closure. Every piece of Andrea’s remains that is identified is a step toward healing, even as the family continues to face the emotional burden of her loss.
In the meantime, the Habermans have found strength in their commitment to remember Andrea for the vibrant young woman she was, not just for the tragic way she died. They keep alive her memory through stories, photos, and their ongoing advocacy for 9/11 victims. The 9/11 tragedy may have forever altered their lives, but through their pain, they continue to share Andrea’s story and fight for the remembrance of all those lost.
As the Habermans continue to navigate this journey, they hope their story will inspire others who are still searching for closure and healing from the devastating events of that day. Their message is clear: “We will never stop honoring Andrea’s memory, and we will never stop searching for the pieces of her that will help us remember the woman she could have been.”
In the ongoing forensic efforts, the Habermans and other families affected by 9/11 have found a small measure of solace. And as new pieces of their loved ones are identified, they take one step closer to closure—and to a future where the memory of those lost is cherished, honored, and never forgotten.
