Twenty-five years after the tragic events of September 11, 2001, Kimmy Chedel continues to carry the bittersweet memory of her husband, Frank Doyle, who lost his life during the terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center. At the time of the attacks, their children, Zoe and Garrett, were just two and one years old, respectively. Chedel reflects on the last moments they shared and the powerful legacy Doyle left behind for their family.

Chedel recounts her first meeting with Doyle in New York, describing it as "love at first sight." She remembers how she was immediately taken by him when she spotted his name tag stuck to her shoe. Chedel describes Doyle as funny, kind, caring, and incredibly handsome. The couple eventually got married and welcomed their two children while residing in Englewood, New Jersey. However, their idyllic life took a devastating turn on September 11, 2001.

Reflecting on that fateful day, Chedel recalls how she had just left home when she learned over the radio that a commercial airplane had crashed into the World Trade Center. Overcome with fear, she quickly turned her car around and raced back home. Her hands trembled as she struggled to get her key in the front door. With urgency, she called her husband’s work phone, and upon hearing his voice, she felt an overwhelming sense of relief.

During that call, Frank informed her that the attack was significantly worse than the World Trade Center bombing he had survived in 1993. He described how he had been thrown to the floor and indicated that he was safe, at least for the moment. However, tragedy struck again when United Airlines Flight 175 crashed into the South Tower, where Doyle was working. Chedel received a poignant call from him immediately following the second impact.

In that final conversation, Doyle spoke deliberately, conveying critical information. He informed her that they were trapped on the 87th floor, and the rooftop doors were locked. As panic ensued and the air grew difficult to breathe, he requested her to promise to tell their children every day how much their father loved them. In that heart-wrenching moment, he instructed her to call 911 to report the people trapped above the chaos.

Though Chedel did not fully grasp his bravery during that call, she later understood it as a final goodbye. Frank Doyle's last communication occurred at 9:22 a.m., just minutes before the South Tower collapsed at 9:59 a.m. He was only 39 years old when he perished, and his remains were identified weeks later through dental records.

For Chedel, the years that followed were a difficult journey of navigating life without her partner while raising their two young children. She recalls receiving heartbreaking news over three-and-a-half years about the recovery of fragments of her husband’s remains. As a mother, she struggled with her grief while ensuring her children were shielded from her sorrow. Chedel shared that she cried alone at night after putting Zoe and Garrett to bed, determined to keep their family united and focused on living, as she believed Frank would have wanted.

In the ensuing years, Chedel made it her mission to keep Frank Doyle’s memory alive in her children’s lives. To honor his love of sports and to create a lasting legacy, she founded Team Frank Africa in Montreal in 2017. The organization has already supported 19 schools across South Africa in Doyle's honor, with more initiatives planned for the future.

Chedel expresses her hope that Frank can witness the accomplishments of their children and take pride in their efforts to uphold his legacy. Her commitment to honoring his memory reflects the resilience and enduring love that continues to shape their family even 25 years after that tragic day.