April 6, 2008

This e-mail comes from Oswego, New York. The writer, Kevin Caraccioli, refers to a blog post on this Web site about Roko Camaj, the World Trade Center window washer pictured below…

“I admire your work. I recently came across your book, Watching the
World Change: The Stories behind the Images of 9/11.

“For the better part of 5 years, I have been attempting to make contact with the family of Roko Camaj, the window washer at the WTC who lost his life on 9/11. Admittedly, my efforts have been minimal out of an abundance of caution and sensitivity (I can not imagine myself in the same situation that they find themselves in). I have produced a short tribute film with Roko and the WTC as the central themes…”

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE CAMAJ FAMILY

“…In circa 1978, my family and I took a trip into NYC and the WTC. It was Easter season (we typically traveled to Greenwich, Conn. to spend the holiday with relatives). Our visit to the WTC was recorded with a 8mm home movie recorder. We were amused by the window washer, on the outside of Windows on the World, looking in at us. It was one of those special memories that always sticks with you.

“After the events of 9/11, I was reading some of the profiles of the victims that regularly appeared in the weekly news periodicals. One profile struck me hard. It told the story of the window washer, Roko Camaj, and was accompanied by a photograph of him taken in recent years. I immediately searched our families home movie collection, queued up the tape with our visit to WTC and saw the now-chilling images of Roko Camaj, some 23 years earlier.

“I am a lawyer by profession, but have always dabbled in artistic projects. I decided to put together a video tribute to the WTC and Roko Camaj, who provided me and my family with a memory of a life time that day. I searched for the perfect music to accompany my video and found it in a piece by pianist Billy Childs entitled, ‘Hand Picked Rose of a Fading Dream.’

“This week, I had a chance to meet Billy Childs and present him with my piece. He has given me permission to use his music with my video and present this tribute to the Camaj family. I would very much like to do so and ask for your assistance in making that connection.

“Please let me know if this is something you can help me with. I would be most grateful for any guidance you can provide me. I am happy to send you a copy of the piece, its about 4 minutes long.

“I look forward to hearing from you at your earliest opportunity.”

Sincerely,
Kevin Caraccioli

DEAR KEVIN: At your service! I’ve lost touch with the Camaj family but will surely be in touch with them soonest...