eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), That image was captured by a New York-based Philman and has, since then, gone on to become one of the most iconic images of individuals who emerged unscathed even at the wake of such a tumultuous incident. The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline. Capestro, who now lives in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, is happily married, has nine grandchildren through marriage and is still working on Wall Street in a job she finds 'very rewarding'. Capestro said she is marking the 20th anniversary by joining fellow survivors and family members of victims at the 9/11 memorial ceremony. Joanne Capestro tells how she escaped from the Towers, walking down the right-hand side of the dark staircases as firemen climbed up the left-hand sides. It means something to somebody. There were many who gave her comfort along the way including a priest from the local church. MSNBC and Peacock are part of our parent company, NBCUniversal. Facebook. She is also a team leader at American Cancer Society and does real estate property management on the side 'as a hobby because I like finding people apartments'. "I remember it was like it was yesterday, to be honest with you. In a heart-touching note that might give some friendship goals, Joanne even mentioned the importance of her friendship with Phil: He was present with me on the best day of my life and also on the worst day of my life. 'Then I heard dentist music on one floor - like that soft, calming music. Joanne Vasquez (Joanne Hennessey) See Photos. Yi-Jin Yu is an editor and reporter for TODAY Digital and leads digital coverage for Weekend TODAY on Saturday mornings. On September 11, 2001, Capestro was working as an assistant secretary on the 87th floor of the North Tower when the hijacked American Airlines Flight 11 crashed into it. Shortly afterward, Penman, then 24, received a phone call. "Phil was with me on the best day of my life," she said, "and the worst day of my life." Joanne Capestro narrowly escaped the World Trade Center terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. Now, 17 years later, the same photographer Phil Penman shot her wedding images six weeks ago. "Then all of a sudden, you hear this rumble and the building's coming down as I'm shooting.". if(document.querySelector("#ads")){ hitType: 'event', ", Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. 17 years back, she was single and wasnt quite sure of marriage. Joanne Mancenido Vasquez. The image, taken seconds after the collapse of the South Tower and captured by photographer Phil Penman, was among some of the most shocking pictures showing survivors helping each other escape the area around Ground Zero. Speaking to DailyMail.com about her life changing experience that occurred 17 years ago today, Capestro said: Phil and I stayed in touch all of these years. Probably, there cannot be a better way to think of friendship from the perspective of the (time of) trials and tribulations that it manages to leapfrog. eventAction: 'render' So does Capestro. Probably, nothing can ever get worse than that. 'I want peace and serenity and people to join together as one.'. "He was with me for the best day of my life and the worst day of my life," she added. They proceeded to rush to a third stairwell exit which was completely empty. ga('ads.send', { 'Very open to the idea': Julia Wandelt takes DNA test to verify if she is missing Swiss girl Livia Schepp, Kayla Lemieux: Teacher with prosthetic Z-cup breasts suspended WITH PAY after pics show her dressed as man, 'We have lots to reveal': Madeleine McCann lookalike Julia Wandelt posts footage of meeting with PI probing claims, Lindsay Clancy case: Psychologist reveals psychosis red flags family members could have spotted, Horror at Larchwood Care! She explained how two out of three stairwell exits were blocked and damaged as a result of the crash. The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline. After finding the only available stairwell exit, Capestro rushed down the 87 flights of stairs, part of the way in high heels, before running out of the North Tower all within 22 minutes. I had survivors' guilt and felt like "why didnt God take me? Catalog; For You; Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland) . hitType: 'event', 'I'm so proud of myself as, 20 years ago, you wouldn't believe you're talking to the same strong woman here now. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), "When we're gone, it needs to be somewhere where it can be seen, where it will be safe," Fajardo said. I wanted to share it with people. Woman seen in iconic 9/11 photo gets the same photographer to shoot her wedding 17 years later. As reported by DailyMail, Joanne shared, "Phil and I stayed in touch all of these years. September 11, 2001 began as any other day for Joanne Jojo Capestro. 'After 20 years I really feel really good about where I am in my life and how I've come a long way mentally,' she said. ', Going into the 20th anniversary, Capestro said she feels 'really good' about her life and jokes that she is 'forever young.'. ga('ads.send', { For more information, please see our She barely made it outside of the building before it began to collapse. She fled down 87 flights of stairsand was only just outside the building when it began to collapse. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. I never want to feel like that again.'. Capestro, who now lives in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, is happily married, has ninegrandchildren through marriage and is still working on Wall Street in a job she finds 'very rewarding'. After seeing the new National September 11 Memorial Museum, one victim's widow decided to donate one of her husband's FDNY paramedic shirts, karate uniforms and beloved baseball jersey. Three men walk past an entrance to a subway station which has a poster advertising the September 21 release of Denzel Washington's blockbuster hit movie Training Day, The heart-wrenching image above captured by Penman shows emergency personnel and civilians working alongside each other to help the injured near Ground Zero. Phil was with me on the best day of my life and the worst day of my life., Joanne Jojo Capestro escaped from the 87th floor of the World Trade Center's North Tower on September 11, 2001 before fleeing to the debris and dust covered streets of lower Manhattan with a coworker. Two compelling reminders of the long manhunt that followed 9/11 went on display Sunday: a Navy SEAL's uniform shirt from the raid that killed Osama bin Laden, and a CIA officer's special coin commemorating the operation. 11M views, 131K likes, 61K loves, 4.5K comments, 58K shares, Facebook Watch Videos from HISTORY: On Sept. 11, 2001, Joanne Capestro arrived to her job at the May Davis Group on the 87th floor of the. People immediately united together to support and comfort each other through the traumatic attacks on the country. ga('ads.send', { Now here we are today and six weeks ago, on August 11, he was the photographer at my wedding. But the phone rang and he answered, then the plane hit five or six floors above us. Sara Barnes is a Staff Editor at My Modern Met, Manager of. }); He always has an open ear for me and I do for him as he was also part of the attack. At that point, I really felt like someone jumped inside me and said 'Jo, Jo, you got to go,'" Capestro said of her decision to walk down 87 floors. And on the best day of my life.". 7 Best Relaxing Video Games To Help You Destress In 2023. Phil Penman's iconic 9/11 photo of Joanne Capestro. Once outside Joanne ran and ran and ran then hid under a car as things collapsed around her, the wounded and dead all around, including co-workers. She is now happily married with nine grandchildren, still lives in her native New York and still works on Wall Street after 40 years. Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), This was the start of how they stayed in touch through the years following. } Visit r/PhotoGIMPs for examples of my work, and stay a while. let gads_event; But now, 20 years on, Capestro said the horrific experience has given her 'courage and resilience to put my best foot forward every day' and 'wake up with a genuine smile on my face.'. "Thats how it all started and we stayed in touch for all of these years. } A place for pictures and photographs. What would happen immediately, in the aftermath of the North Tower falling into dust, would be the emergence of an image of a tall, mid-aged woman, feeling lucky- as expected- at having escaped the incident, walking barefoot alongside her coworker, covered completely in dust and rubble. He didn't pick up but he checked the message anyway. Joanne Capestro, meanwhile, was gearing up for another workday in the city. 'Every floor was different - some were on fire, some there were people bleeding, some there was glass on the floor,' she said. 'I saw all the jumpers, the blood all over, the dead people - and I passed out.'. Discover short videos related to joanne capestro on TikTok. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast, Scan this QR code to download the app now. Join Facebook to connect with Joanne Edge and others you may know. ', Capestro photographed in front of One World Trade Center in 2021 - 20 years after surviving the 2001 terrorist attacks. "That's how it all started and we stayed in touch for all of these years. 'A lot of survivors go there and I'm just so happy that the 9/11 family members have a place to go to mourn their loved ones and we get to see our survivor friends and it's like a big 9/11 family.'. She was there on that fateful morning when American Airlines Flight 11 crashed into her office building. 'I'm happily married, have a great husband and thank God every day for him. Neil Matthew Dollard's relatives talked for years about donating the few possessions authorities found after the bond broker died at the trade center. Capestro explained that September 11, 2001 began like any other day for her. In the immediate aftermath of the horrific fall of the Twin-Towers, there emerged a picture of a young woman completely covered in dust and rubble, walking in a manner that truly indicated that the world around her had collapsed.