Simon 9/11 Remembrance

During Convocation on September 22, the Simon community observed a Moment of Silence in memory of University of Rochester and Simon alumni lost on 9/11/01: Jeffrey R. Smith ’87, ’88 MBA, and Zhe (Zack) Zeng ’95, ’98 MBA.

Jeff was working at Sandler O’Neill and Partners as an equity analyst on the 104th floor of the South Tower that morning. Those who knew Jeff said he was passionate about three things: his family, his friends and his Miami Hurricanes. Jeff, then 36, was a devoted husband to wife, Ellen, and a loving father to their daughters, Margaret and Charlotte, who were 3 and 1 at the time. Friends say he loved to hike with one of this two girls strapped to his back. As a student, Jeff played on the University football team and was very involved in campus life. After the first plane hit the World Trade Center, Jeff called his wife and said he would remain in the building. Friends believe he died helping others evacuate.

While most people were running away from the scene, Zack grabbed his EMT bag, which he always had with him in case of an emergency, left his office at the nearby Bank of New York, and headed for the WTC. The last known images of Zack were aired on Fox TV in New York showing him helping an injured woman on a stretcher before the South Tower collapsed. A native of Canton, China, Zack emigrated to the US with his parents when he was 15. His father died while Zack was a student at the University, something friends say had a profound impact on him. From then on, he wanted to give back and help others. During his years in Rochester, Zack worked for Brighton Volunteer Ambulance. He has been described as humble, kind, giving and selfless. After his death, the New York City Council renamed a street in Chinatown where he lived “Zack Zeng Way” to honor his heroism.

During Convocation, University president Joel Seligman led a moment of silence in their memory and said they will never be forgotten.