Zack Zeng | |
|---|---|
 Zeng in the 1990s | |
| Born | September 30, 1972 |
| Died | September 11, 2001(2001-09-11) (aged 28) Manhattan, New York City, U.S. |
| Cause of death | Collapse of1 World Trade Center as part of theSeptember 11 attacks |
| Alma mater | University of Rochester |
| Employer | Bank of New York |
| Known for | Acts of heroism during the September 11 attacks |
Zack Zeng (September 30, 1972 – September 11, 2001), also known by his Chinese nameZhe Zeng (Chinese:曾喆;pinyin:Zēng Zhé;Chinese:曾喆;Jyutping:Cang4 Zit3) was aChinese Americanbanker and volunteeremergency medical technician (EMT) known for providing aid to the injured at theWorld Trade Center site during theSeptember 11 attacks in New York City, during which he lost his own life.
Zeng was born on 1972 inGuangzhou. He attendedGuangzhou No. 1 Middle School and in 1988, he immigrated to the United States with his parents. He completed his undergraduate and master's degree in business administration from theUniversity of Rochester in 1998. In the same year, he joined theBank of New York as an assistant treasurer at the bank's receipts depository division. During part time, he worked as a volunteer EMT with thevoluntary ambulance inBrighton, New York.[1][2][3]
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On September 11, 2001, Zeng was in his office at the Bank of New York building at101 Barclay Street when theSouth Tower of theWorld Trade Center collapsed at 9:59 a.m after being struck byUnited Airlines Flight 175 at 9:03 a.m. As a result, he and other occupants in the Bank of New York building were forced to evacuate due to the building's close proximity to the World Trade Center.[1]
Following the collapse of the South Tower, Zeng, due to his EMT experience, collected medical supplies from his office and informed his colleagues that he was heading to World Trade Center site to help the rescue workers and aid the injured. He called his mother and informed her that he was fine and he was going to save people, which would be his last words to her.[3] Upon his arrival at the site, he was reported to be seen alongside firemen who were assisting two injured women to safety and appeared in the news footage ofWNYW-TV Fox 5 where he was seen providing emergency aid at the site.[1][4][3][5][6]
Zeng was killed when theNorth Tower of the World Trade Center collapsed at 10:28 a.m.[2]
In May 2002, he was posthumously awarded certificate of commendation by theGovernor of New YorkGeorge Pataki. Zeng's remains were recovered on May 18, 2002, and his funeral services were held on September 7, 2002, atChinatown, New York, which was attended by more than 100 people, including then Chinese Consul General in New York Zhang Hongxi. During the funeral services, Timothy Kearney, a representative of Bank of New York announced that the bank would dedicate one of its conference rooms in Zeng's honor and would raise money every year for Brighton Volunteer Ambulance. Memorial services honoring Zeng were also held in Fengqing Shouyue Primary School and his alma mater No. 1 Middle School in Guangzhou where students were taught about his heroism.[3] He was survived by his older brother Zeng Shen and mother Cen Jiaoxian.[7]
In December 2003, Manhattan Community Board #3 passed a motion to name a block in Bayard Street in New York's Chinatown as Zhe "Zack" Zeng Way. In 2016, the Brighton Volunteer Ambulance dedicated one of their ambulances in honor of Zeng.[1][2][8][9][10]
A plaque honoring Zeng is placed on a patio at theSimon School of Business at the University of Rochester. At theNational 9/11 Memorial, Zeng is memorialized at the South Pool, on Panel S-37.[11][12]