‘We Were There Then, and We Are Still There Today’ Reflections on 25th Anniversary of 9/11

Beth Chambers’ support for Massachusetts families that lost loved ones in the Sept. 11 attacks began at a moment’s notice, but it has remained a constant in her life for the past 25 years. 

“In the days following those horrific events, our job was to call these families, set up meetings with them, and see what ever we could do to help,” said Chambers, who worked for Catholic Charities Boston for 35 years, retiring as the Vice President for Basic Needs. “We were there then, and we are still there today with them.” 

Chambers was one of five Catholic Charities Boston employees who were tapped to reach out to the 219 Massachusetts families who lost a loved one on Sept. 11. Since that charge, Chambers remained heavily involved with the families, attending funerals, standing alongside them during legal proceedings, and organizing events for families to speak at schools around Greater Boston about their experiences. 

“My job has always been to watch the families and make sure that whenever we are at an event or in a meeting, that they are OK,” said Chambers. “I kept up with it because I always felt that this is what we needed to do.” 

Beth Chambers, center, at Hope for the Holidays with families impacted by Sept. 11.

One memory that has remained with Chambers from that time is when she spent six hours visiting with a woman who lost her husband. Another time, she spoke with a widow who was overwhelmed when she saw the cause of death on her husband’s death certificate was homicide. 

“The five of us who did this work were faced with very difficult moments,” explained Chambers.  

Catholic Charities Boston’s support has been reciprocated over the years as 9/11 Massachusetts families have volunteered at the agency’s annual Thanksgiving meal distribution and Hope for the Holidays. 

“When 9/11 happened, so many people in the communities would help us and they felt it helped them to help us,” explained Karin Giansanti, chair of the Massachusetts 9/11 Fund’s Family Advisory Committee. “For us to be able to help other people in need, whatever that might be…it just feels good to give back. We would always get a lot of volunteers for the Catholic Charities events.” 

Giansanti, whose husband Ken Zelman was on the 99th floor of the North Tower on Sept. 11, has known Chambers for more than a decade. She said Chambers was integral in helping Massachusetts families visit the 9/11 Memorial & Museum in New York City.   

“(Beth) has such a way where she is never intrusive but always there when you need her,” Giansanti said. 

Today, Chambers serves on the Massachusetts 9/11 Fund’s Board of Directors and will attend the Massachusetts Remembers: United We Stand event at the State House commemorating the 25th anniversary. 

“Working with 9/11 families absolutely grounds me because, on the surface, what they are going through is different than someone coming to us at Catholic Charities who is hungry or needs help with rent,” Chambers noted. “But at the end of the day it is all the same: a family in crisis that needs support.”