Memorials

911 and the Cranes

Posted September 11, 2026 by Jan
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Bangkok
Thailand
10 September 2026

 
Hello,
 
I remember exactly where I was and exactly what I was doing in the early afternoon of November 22, 1963.   I was in the library at the City College of New York studying for an American History midterm exam.  Uptown City.
 
For the afternoon of September 11, 2001, I had scheduled piano lessons with my young students.   But at 9:00 am that morning I was in the dentist office in North Miami Beach. I watched the events unfold on a TV in the waiting room and then on a small monitor from the reclining chair in the clinic.  Later that morning I called the parents and recommended we keep the schedule and try to maintain a somewhat normal day for the kids.
 
Two months later in November 2001, I visited New York and found my way to Ground Zero.  The deep, multi-story pit still shouldered with red molten steel and concrete.  Acrid, choking, noxious black fumes rose into the neighborhood.  To clear my aching head I wandered west.  I boarded a commuter ferry for a round trip sail to Jersey across the Hudson. So broad. So breezy. So bright. 
 
Later in the day I took the train uptown to Grand Central.  Shocking! Stunning!  Heartbreaking!  At stops and stations along the way, desperate and hopeful relatives and friends had posted dozens of large photos of their Missing.
 
In 2002 I heard a radio announcement from The Digital Archives.  They were collecting WTC Memories.  So from Miami, I phoned one in.
 
Back in the day I lived in The City.  Every day, floor by floor, I watched the inexorable rise of the Twin Towers.    No, not from the street.   From the window of the subway as we crossed over the East River on the Manhattan Bridge.  Amazing!  I was en route on the RR and the N from my apartment on Shore Road in the Bay Ridge section of Brooklyn to my job at The Plaza on Central Park South in Manhattan. 
 
My Memory?  The Construction Cranes!  Eight of them!  One on each corner.  Higher and higher almost every day.  The Cranes!
In the early morning, Quite a Sight. 
 
What do you remember?
 
Did you know anyone? 
 
Click on the links below:  
 
My Memory: A recording of a brief telephone call.  
 
The Legacy: Images of the Eternal. 
 
Peace my friend.  Peace. 
 
Jan
 
 
The Legacy    The Lives of September 11.

William E. Ricco

Posted January 26, 2026 by Jan
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William Edward Ricco
December 4, 1931 – January 7, 2026

William Edward "Bill" Ricco, 94, of Simsbury, CT passed away peacefully on January 7, 2026. He was born on December 4, 1931 in Brooklyn, New York to William S. and Victoria Ricco, and was the beloved husband of Grace Caridi Ricco. He was a cherished husband, father, grandfather, uncle, cousin and proud veteran. He was raised in his grandparent's home by his devoted mother, Victoria, and a large extended family.

Bill attended Brooklyn Technical High School. While still in high school, he joined a group of professional musicians where he sang and played piano. Bill played professionally until 1975 and his love of music sustained him for the next 50 years. He passed that love of music on to his children and grandchildren.

Bill proudly served his country in the United States Army during the Korean War from 1952-1954. He served both as a company cook, running the camp mess hall, and as an infantryman, rising to the rank of sergeant. Bill loved telling stories of trading with local villagers to secure the best cuts of meat for his fellow soldiers - efforts that earned his mess hall such an excellent reputation that high-ranking officers often made special trips to dine there. He remained deeply proud of his military service throughout his life and was often seen during retirement wearing his cherished Korean War Veteran cap.

Harold Pockriss 1930-2026

Posted February 4, 2026 by Jan
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Jomtien Beach
Thailand
Wednesday
February 4, 2026
 
Dear Adam,
 
I first met Mr. Pockriss sixty years ago when I was a student-teacher at Haaren High School in Manhattan.  Mr. Pockriss was my mentor.  Soon thereafter I was appointed as an English Teacher there, so Mr. Pockriss and I were now colleagues.
 
Those were the days before computers and mobile phones and even Xerox machines.  Consequently there always a flurry of paper announcements and requests and instructions to the staff.  I learned something from Mr. Pockriss that I use to this very day.  He said,  "I handle the paper immediately.  Otherwise I'll loose it."
 
Sometimes we would walk together in the busy hallways of the all-boys high school.  Hal would point to one of the kids and say, "You see that boy?  I taught him everything he doesn't know."

Oscar White Muscarella 1931-2022

Posted December 2, 2022 by Jan
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Bangkok Friday, December 2.

I am heartbroken. Oscar was my teacher at CCNY in 1960. History 1. When he spoke of Greek governance he used the All State slogan, "You're in good hands." But he loved the Phrygians. Prof Muscarella was so kind.  He gave me an A.

Oscar and I have been in contact for several years. I visited his office at The Met and his home in Manhattan. We shared memories of Van, Turkey where he had a dig. This year I visited Iran and now I regret we'll never have the chance to discuss the ancient civilizations there.

Oscar Bey was a loyal friend. He followed all my travels and my website. I am so sad. I will miss my fellow New Yorker and my outspoken and fearless friend.

My condolences to the Muscarella Family.

Jan Polatschek

Jay Gilsen: September 4, 1940 - March 13, 2009

Posted May 15, 2009 by Jan
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Bangkok, Thailand
Sunday Morning
March 15, 2009

Dear Friends,

I have some very sad news to report.

After several battles, my friend Jay Gilsen passed away in New York on Friday, March 13. Jay is one of my oldest and dearest friends.

Jay was my Anderson Avenue, Highbridge, Bronx, New York neighborhood buddy and my classmate from Kindergarten through Taft High School. As regular "cut -ups," we often met at "the Principal's bench" at PS 73.

 

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