The remains of a firefighter killed in the September 11, 2001, terror attacks at the World Trade Center have been identified, the New York City Medical Examiner's office said Friday.
Lt. Jeffrey P. Walz, 37, was identified after authorities retested remains that were recovered in the months following the attack. Photos: One World Trade Center towers over NYC Photos: One World Trade Center towers over NYC
Of the 2,753 people killed in the attack, more than 1,100 people have not had remains identified, according to Barbara Sampson, acting chief medical examiner.
More than 8,200 bone samples and additional samples require DNA testing, according to a report released by Sampson. Walz, who was last seen in the north tower of the World Trade Center, was survived by a wife and a son, according to an obituary in the Staten Island Advance.
Lt. Jeffrey Walz died in the north tower nearly a dozen years ago.
"My family always felt at some point we would get a phone call," his widow, Rani Walz, tells the New York Post. "I wasn't so sure. This has reopened old wounds."
Walz was 37 when he died, leaving behind Rani and their 3-year-old son, Bradley. He managed to call his wife and parents from the tower before it collapsed, says his sister.
As for that "gentle giant" nickname: "It was obviously because of his height and because he was such a good person," explains his wife. "He was a saint with me."
A city official says the remains of 1,637 World Trade Center victims have now been identified.
"At least we can say he's not missing anymore," mom Jennie Walz tells the Journal News.
Saturday 6 July 2013
http://edition.cnn.com/2013/07/05/us/new-york-9-11-remains
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/07/06/newser-911-sept-11-firefighter/2494477/
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