Knights Becoming and a Lady in Waiting

TRIBUTE: Prokopios "Paul" Zois, World Trade Center, 9/11/2001

[NOTE: After a lot of deliberation, I'm reposting this in a friendlier format.  Dates may be off by one year, as I didn't have exact dates to use for calculations.]

A boy is born in Greece around 1955.  He is named Prokopios and his parents, Theofanis and Elizabeth, work hard to provide for him and his two sisters, Georgia and Alexandra.  As Prokopios grows older, he has no time to play... this imprints firmly on his psyche and will have a strong role in how he raises his own children.

Work, child, work;

Play is not for you.

To eat, to drink, to live,

There's things that you must do.

The Zois family immigrates to New York in the United States around 1964.  The American Dream starts to come alive for Prokopios, who becomes known as Paul.

Land of dreams you enter;

See Lady Liberty?

Her torch held high to New York's night

For one Greek boy to dream.

Paul started work at TWA around 1977 as a travel advisor.  He is known for his helpful attitude with the pilots, his thick accent, and his smile.  Paul always smiled.

Clearly, but with accent, "I'll help you," said young Paul;

Remembered for his kindness;

Remembered for his smile;

He'll meet the woman of his dreams

While working all the while.

Paul graduates with a bachelor's degree from Brooklyn College in 1978.  He has a background in psychology.  He also meets a wonderful woman, Dorota (possibly Kassimatis?) at TWA.  They are married on October 3rd, 1981.

Big Fat Greek Wedding?

Perhaps it was just so.

When Paul and Dorota married

More than twenty years ago.

A maid of  honor listed

As only Anne Marie

Was there that day to witness

Love that steadily would grow.

In 1984, a daughter, Stefania, is born.

In 1986, a son, Theofanis Paul (named after grandfather and father), is born.

Paul spends hours with his children.  He plays with them and cares for them.  Dorota works nights as a nurse, so Paul is the one who makes sure homework gets done and baths are taken.  He pursues soccer and basketball for his children and other children, coaching in his free time.  His childhood gives him a strong desire to let his children play.

A blessing full of children!

A daughter and a son;

He'll teach them to play soccer

Before they quite can run. 

He'll coach them, love them, raise them,

As their mother works at night,

These children are his treasures;

He makes sure they're raised right.

Sometime prior to 1997, TWA moves to St. Louis and Paul takes furlough, rather than move his family from New York.  He later takes a position with American Express in their corporate travel services department-- placed in the Marsh & McClennan Company offices on the 94th floor of the World Trade Center.

Time is growing short,

Yet somehow you anticipate.

Family first, family last,

Time well-spent before "too late".

On September 7th, 2001, Theo asks his father for a new top-notch pair of soccer shoes.  They aren't in the stores, so Paul orders them, then tightens new nubs on the old soccer shoes because the season is starting.

Ticking, ticking,

Making memories to last.

Could you know

How time would pass?

On September 11, 2001, the World Trade Center is struck by an airplane.  Paul is working on the 93rd (according to Dorota) or 94th floor.  The Tower crumbles and Paul is missing.  Rumor says he helps rescue crews and wounded.  It would fit his personality.  He is known for sacrificial giving and generosity. 

I am looking for PAUL ZOIS. He was working on the 93rd FLOOR of TOWER 1 at one of American Express's offices. He has been missing since the attack at the WTC on Tuesday Sept. 11. If anyone has any information please contact DOROTA ZOIS at 1(516)-xxx-xxxx. This is my husband PAUL ZOIS. Once again, if anyone has ANY information,whether it be another victim or hospital personnel or anyone that might know something about him, please contact me immediately.Thank You.

Posted Thursday, 9/13/01 at 3:06am

By Dorota Zois

On September 12, 2001, Paul is still listed missing.  A package arrives for Theo... the soccer shoes.  The 15-year-old boy sits on his bed, hugging the shoes, and cries.  Where is his father now?

A rough embrace

So hard to face

Shoes you bought

With memories fraught

And still the word... missing.

On September 29, 2001, Paul is scheduled on a flight to the Bahamas with his wife.  It is to be their first vacation without the children.

Instead, a memorial service is held for him, his picture and a few small trinkets in place of a casket.

Saint Paul's Greek Orthodox Cathedral of Hempstead, on Long Island, was the scene of one of many funerals and memorial services throughout the New York area for fallen victims of the September 11th terrorist attacks against America. Here, in a somber ceremony, pierced occasionally by helpless cries from family members, the final memorial hymns were sung for Prokopis Zois, who was at work for American Express on the 94th floor of Tower One of the World Trade Center. Zois, who also taught at Queensboro College, was the founder of the Cathedral's youth soccer and basketball teams and was considered by many to be one of the pillars of that community's youth athletic programs. Archbishop Demetrios officiated the ceremony, which instead of a coffin, had as its center an enlarged photograph of Zois and some of his personal belongings. His son Theofanis and daughter Stephanie delivered eulogies to the packed church.

October 3, 2001 would have been the 20th anniversary of Paul and Dorota Zois.  20th is such a significant number in marriage. 

Posted on September 11, 2003: 

Dad you were the best thing that ever happend to me. From teaching me how to play soccer to being there for every game i played in and i loved it when u used to tell me how i played after each game. You truly are my angel. I hope that you are in a good place and i alwasy want you to know, I Love you and miss you.

Theo Zois, 7:54 pm

It could end here.  But it doesn't.  Instead, Paul's presence lives on.  Whitney Crittenden loses her mother in the attacks and the Zois family adopts her.  Dorota becomes a nurse at an elementary-level school.  Stefania receives a scholarship to attend St. John's University, where she studies to be a physician's assistant.  Theo is a scholarship receipient as well and chooses New York Institute of Technology.  He plays soccer.

"Zois" means life.  Prokopios "Paul" Zois embraced life, shared life, and gave life.  His gift will continue to grow in his wife and his children.

I remember Prokopios Paul Zois.

[For more remembrances of the 2996 people who died 9/11/2001, please go to the 2996 .  All information contained herein is accurate to the best of my ability.  My references follow.] 

• http://www.september11victims.com
• http://cf.newsday.com/911/victimsearch.cfm?id=2474
• http://www.legacy.com/Guestbook.asp?PersonID=101788
• http://www.ousc.com/scholarships.html
• http://www.sept11thmemorial.com
• http://www.csrwire.com/article.cgi/1951.html
• http://old.orthodoxnews.com/138/Holds.htm
• http://www.kellenberg.org/scholarships.html
• http://www.smilinjack.com/cgi/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=6;t=000406
• http://www.psc-cuny.org/PDF/Clarion_Feb_04.pdf
• http://www.brooklyn.cuny.edu/bc/text/pubs/bcmag/bcm-spr02/mem911.htm
• http://www.suzannerandolphfinearts.com/amex.html
• http://www.greekamerica.net/pastissues/7-2/terror_hits_home.wu
• http://orthodoxnews.freepage.ru/138/Holds.htm