Oral History with Tom Rogér

Oral history interview with Tom Rogér and Amy Weinstein on January 22, 2024.

Tom Rogér is a 9/11 family member and a Founding Trustee of the National September 11 Memorial & Museum. In this interview, Rogér reflects on his career as an electrical engineer and project executive with the Gilbane Building Company, his family's life in Massachusetts, and the profound impact the death of his daughter Jean Destrehan Rogér on September 11, 2001. He recounts Jean's childhood, her love of travel, and her decision to become a flight attendant following her graduation from Penn State University. Rogérdescribes learning of the attacks while at work in New Haven, Connecticut, the devastating realization that Jean had been aboard American Airlines Flight 11, the first plane to strike the World Trade Center. Rogér describes the support his family received from American Airlines and their community in the days that followed. He discusses how his engineering background and experience managing large-scale construction projects motivated him to become involved in the planning of the 9/11 Museum, beginning with the Family Advisory Council and later as a member of the Board of Trustees. Rogér reflects on the complex process of balancing the interests of victims' families, public officials, architects, and other stakeholders as plans for the 9/11 Memorial & Museum evolved, emphasizing the leadership of John C. Whitehead, Governor George Pataki, Daniel Libeskind, Michael Arad, Peter Walker, Stefan Pryor, and Davis Brody Bond. He also recounts his involvement with Families of September 11th, his advocacy for improvements to airline safety and security following the attacks, and his belief that the 9/11 Memorial & Museum should serve as both a dignified place of remembrance and an educational institution that preserves the history of September 11 for future generations. Throughout the interview, Rogér reflects on grief, resilience, and the enduring importance of honoring victims through thoughtful design, public memory, and continued education, while expressing his gratitude for the collaborative effort that brought the 9/11 Memorial & Museum to fruition.