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| Susan Walsh, AP |
There are certain dates that as an American citizen or resident- regardless of your background - that you remember. I wasn't alive when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, or when JFK was killed in Dallas, but I was a high school senior in the Bronx, NY on that horrific late summer day in 2001. I vividly remember hearing about a plane crash at the World Trade Center in first period Calculus, though we weren't sure if it was purposeful or an accident at that point. My English teacher opted for a media blackout - this was before smartphones, remember- in favor of his lecture on Grendel, a 1971 interpretation of the epic Anglo-Saxon poem Boewulf. The novel deals with what were soon to be topical issues of finding meaning in the world and good vs. evil.
By third period, the reality of the outside world could not be denied, and school was cancelled. On the ride out from campus, a billow of dark smoke emanating from southern Manhattan some 17 miles away was clearly visible. The rest of the day, from finding out if friends and loved ones were ok to witnessing acts of heroism, is still seared into my cortex. If ever the cliche "seems like it was yesterday" applies, it is to that day 12 years ago.
Hardly anyone was untouched by the vicious attacks in New York City, Washington, D.C. and Western Pennsylvania that day. Certainly the NESCAC generally, and the eleven member schools specifically, were profoundly affected. As one example, then recent Williams grad Lindsay Morehouse ('00), an assiduous and affable member of the Ephs tennis team, had her life cut tragically short at her job in the World Trade Center . Williams has a memorial for the 1998-99 All-American at their tennis court and the lady Ephs will open the season with the Morehouse Invitational this weekend.
Even the ultra-specific world of NESCAC hockey did not go unscathed. Former Bowdoin goalie Frank Doyle (1985) had an office on the 89th floor of the South Tower. Doyle was the head of equity trading at Keefe, Bruyette& Woods, the same firm that employed Lindsay Morehouse. After the second plane hit, the 39 year old Doyle was able to call his wife Kimmey (herself a Middlebury alum) to tell her that he loved her and their two sons, Zoe and Garrett, before Frank ultimately perished. Bowdoin President Barry Mills recounted Doyle's story at Bowdoin's 9/11 10th anniversary memorial.
30 year Bowdoin head coach Terry Meagher may be a living legend today, but Doyle played for him in the nascent stages of the bench boss' coaching career. In fact, Doyle spent the first half of his collegiate days under an already living legend in the fedora-clad Sid Watson, before Meagher took over in 1983. On the 12th anniversary of Frank's death, we asked Coach Meagher to offer a remembrance for Doyle, and he was nice enough to oblige. Below are Meagher's thoughtful words:
Today is a difficult one for so many families. Bowdoin was impacted significantly by the terrorist acts of September 11th.
First and foremost Frank was a gentleman, committed student and solid campus citizen. I will be forever grateful to the special group of young men in Frank’s class who welcomed and supported a young Coach as he navigated the challenges that come in following a legend. This program is so very rich in tradition because of men of character like Frank Doyle.
I can close my eyes and see Frank skating to the bench during a delayed penalty. He may have been the fastest goaltender I have coached or had as a teammate. With the benefit of experience today I may be trying to find a way to use that skating game of Frank’s as a sixth attacker. He could fly.
It is a day of remembrance. Our hearts go out to Frank’s family and all who lost loved ones on that tragic day. We will never forget. Thank you for honoring Frank’s memory
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