Neil David Levin | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Executive Director of thePort 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 (1954-09-16)September 16, 1954 New York City, U.S. |
| Died | September 11, 2001(2001-09-11) (aged 46) North Tower,World Trade Center, New York City, U.S. |
| Spouse | Christy Ferer |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | Lafayette College (BA) Long Island University (MBA) Hofstra University (JD) |
Neil David Levin (September 16, 1954[2] – September 11, 2001) was an American businessman and political figure who was executive director of thePort Authority of New York and New Jersey from April 2001 until his death during theSeptember 11 attacks on theWorld Trade Center later that year.[1]
Levin was a native of Brooklyn.[1] He earned a bachelor's degree in economics fromLafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania and anMBA fromLong Island University at itsC. W. Post Center, followed by a law degree from theMaurice A. Deane School of Law atHofstra University.[3]
After completing his law degree, Levin became counsel to the securities subcommittee of theU.S. Senate Banking Committee, where he helped draft the 1984 Insider Trading Sanctions Act.[3]
In 1987 he went to work forGoldman Sachs, becoming vice president in 1989 and providing investment banking to federal agencies. He was also chairman of theFederal Home Loan Bank Board of New York for seven years and an adviser to the federal home loan programsFannie Mae andFreddie Mac.[3]
In February 1995, Levin was appointed byNew York GovernorGeorge Pataki to serve as the state's Superintendent of Banks.[4] He took over from acting Superintendent Carmine M. Tenga.[5] In this role, Levin was the state's chief banking regulator, head of the Department of Banking, and Chairman of the State Banking Board.Elizabeth McCaul became acting superintendent.[6]
In 1997, Pataki named Levin as the state Superintendent of Insurance, the state's chief insurance regulator.[6][7] At the same time, Pataki 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.[3][8]
In early 2001, Pataki and thenNew Jersey GovernorDonald DiFrancesco named Levin as the executive director of thePort Authority,[9] the agency that runs the World Trade Center, various bridges and tunnels aroundNew 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]
Levin worked in a corner office on the 67th floor of the World Trade Center'sNorth Tower. On September 11, 2001, Levin was at theWindows on the World restaurant on the 106th and 107th floors of the North Tower. WhenAmerican Airlines Flight 11 was deliberately crashed into the tower between floors 93–99 at 8:46 A.M., 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. Levin eventually perished when the North Tower collapsed at 10:28 A.M., killing all remaining survivors that were trapped above the impact zone.[10] 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 whenAmerican 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]
Levin marriedChristy Ferer in 1996; they had two children from her previous marriage.[3]
At theNational 9/11 Memorial, Levin is memorialized at the North Pool, on Panel N-65.[11] He is buried at Mount Lebanon Cemetery inGlendale, Queens, New York.[citation needed]
TheNeil D. Levin Graduate Institute of International Relations and Commerce was established by GovernorGeorge Pataki and theState of New York in his memory, and is a part of theState University of New York.
| Preceded by Carmine M. Tenga | Superintendent of Banks of New York February 14, 1995 – April 1997 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by Edward J. Muhl | Superintendent of Insurance of New York April 1, 1997 – April 5, 2001 | Succeeded by Gregory V. Serio |
| Preceded by Robert Boyle | Executive Director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey April 2001 – September 2001 | Succeeded by Joseph Seymour |