Neil David Levin (September 16, 1954[2] – September 11, 2001) was an American businessman and political figure who was executive director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey from April 2001 until his death during the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center later that year.[1]
Neil David Levin | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Executive Director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey | |
| In office April 2001[1] – September 11, 2001 | |
| Nominated by | George Pataki |
| Preceded by | Robert E. Boyle |
| Succeeded by | Ronald Shiftan |
| Superintendent of Insurance of New York | |
| In office April 1, 1997 – April 5, 2001 | |
| Governor | George Pataki |
| Preceded by | Edward J. Muhl |
| Succeeded by | Gregory V. Serio |
| Superintendent of Banks of New York | |
| In office February 14, 1995 – April 1997 | |
| Governor | George Pataki |
| Preceded by | Carmine M. Tenga |
| Succeeded by | Elizabeth McCaul |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Neil David Levin September 16, 1954 New York City, U.S. |
| Died | September 11, 2001 (aged 46) New York City, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Christy Ferer |
| Education | Lafayette College Long Island University Maurice A. Deane School of Law |
Early life
editNeil David Levin was a native of Brooklyn.[1]
Career
editNeil Levin graduated from Lafayette College in Easton, PA. In February 1995, Levin was appointed by New York Governor George Pataki to serve as the state's Superintendent of Banks.[3] He took over from acting Superintendent Carmine M. Tenga.[4] In this role, Levin was the state's chief banking regulator, head of the Department of Banking, and Chairman of the State Banking Board. He was succeeded by Elizabeth McCaul as Superintendent of Banks.[5] In 1997, Pataki named Levin as the state Superintendent of Insurance, which made him the state's chief insurance regulator.[6] Pataki also named him the Chairman of the Commission on the Recovery of Holocaust Victims' Assets, which arranged for the return of assets to families in New York.[7]
In early 2001, Pataki and then New Jersey Gov. Donald DiFrancesco named Levin as the executive director of the Port Authority.[8] In this role he was the chief executive officer of the agency which runs the World Trade Center, various bridges and tunnels around New York City, the three airports in the New York City area, the seaports in New York and New Jersey, and various international trade programs. Levin was executive director for five months before his death.[1]
September 11 attacks and death
editLevin worked in a corner office on the 67th floor of the World Trade Center's North Tower. On September 11, 2001, Levin was at the Windows on the World restaurant on the 106th and 107th floors of the North Tower. When American Airlines Flight 11 was deliberately crashed into the tower between floors 93–99, all escape routes were cut off for anyone higher than the 91st floor, and Levin became one of roughly 800 people trapped in the upper floors of the burning skyscraper.[9] His body was recovered in April 2002, nearly seven months after the attacks.
Before the tower was struck, Levin was speaking on the phone with his executive adviser, Karen Eastman. She later related that when American Airlines Flight 11 hit the tower, "Our reaction was 'What was that?' It hit on the opposite side so we just felt the impact and the building kept shaking and swaying for a long time."[1]
Personal life and legacy
editLevin lived in Manhattan.[10]
At the National 9/11 Memorial, Levin is memorialized at the North Pool, on Panel N-65.[11] He is buried at Mount Lebanon Cemetery in Glendale, Queens, New York.[citation needed]
The Neil D. Levin Graduate Institute of International Relations and Commerce was established by Governor George Pataki and the State of New York in his memory, and is a part of the State University of New York.
References
edit- ^ a b c d e "Neil D. Levin, 47, P.A. executive director". NJ.com. August 15, 2011. Archived from the original on January 6, 2021. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
- ^ "Memorial Guide | National September 11th Memorial & Museum". Names.911memorial.org.
- ^ "15 Feb 1995, 4 - The Post-Star". Newspapers.com. Retrieved July 27, 2022.
- ^ "Annual report of the Superintendent of the Banking Department of the State of New York" (PDF). Nysl.ptfs.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 27, 2022. Retrieved July 27, 2022.
- ^ "Governor Pataki Appoints Neil Levin as Superintendent of State Insurance Department". June 24, 1997. Archived from the original on June 24, 1997. Retrieved July 27, 2022.
- ^ "NYS Banking Department". April 18, 1997. Archived from the original on April 18, 1997. Retrieved July 27, 2022.
- ^ "NEIL D. LEVIN: World Trade Center: A Consensus Builder". Legacy.com. June 7, 2000.
- ^ Smothers, Ronald (March 31, 2001). "Pataki Names State Official as Port Authority's Chief". The New York Times.
- ^ Dwyer, Jim; Lipton, Eric (May 26, 2002). "102 Minutes: Last Words at the Trade Center; Fighting to Live as the Towers Die". The New York Times. Archived from the original on November 14, 2013. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
- ^ Wyatt, Edward (September 22, 2001). "Neil Levin, Executive Director Of Bistate Port Authority, 46". The New York Times. Archived from the original on August 20, 2009.
- ^ "North Pool: Panel N-65 – Neil David Levin". National September 11 Memorial & Museum. Archived from the original on July 27, 2013. Retrieved October 29, 2011.
External links
edit
- "Suny Levin Institute". August 2, 2012. Archived from the original on August 3, 2012.
- Neil David Levin at Find a Grave