Skip to main content
skip

Search form


  • About
    • About
    • Why the Ford School?
    • Legacy of Gerald Ford
    • Diversity commitment
    • Engagement
    • Global Ford School
    • Ford School Committee
    • Jobs
    • Contact us
    • Ford School Centennial
  • Academics
    • Academics
    • Course listing
    • Master's programs
    • Undergraduate program
    • Doctoral program
    • Academic resources
    • STPP Grad Certificate
    • PPIA program
  • Admissions
    • Admissions
    • Tuition and residency
    • Planning your visit
    • Request more information
  • Careers & internships
    • Careers & internships
    • Undergraduates
    • Graduate students
    • Why hire from the Ford School?
    • Policy Grads at work
  • Research & action
    • Research
    • Faculty experts
    • Visiting policymakers
    • Research centers
    • Faculty publications
    • Research publications
  • Student life
    • Student life
    • Student organizations
    • Housing
    • Ann Arbor
  • News & events
    • News & events
    • News
    • Events
    • Publications
    • Video
    • Social media
  • Giving
    • Giving
    • Why give
    • Where to give
    • How to give
  • Prospective Students
  • Current Students
  • Faculty/Staff
  • Employers
  • Policymakers & Press
  • Alumni
    • Alumni
    • Alumni events
    • Stay connected
    • Staebler Award
    • Alumni Board
Ford School Home PageThe Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy at the University of Michigan
  • Request a room
  • People
  • Intranet

Search form

  • About
    • About
    • Why the Ford School?
    • Legacy of Gerald Ford
    • Diversity commitment
    • Engagement
    • Global Ford School
    • Ford School Committee
    • Jobs
    • Contact us
    • Ford School Centennial
  • Academics
    • Academics
    • Course listing
    • Master's programs
    • Undergraduate program
    • Doctoral program
    • Academic resources
    • STPP Grad Certificate
    • PPIA program
  • Admissions
    • Admissions
    • Tuition and residency
    • Planning your visit
    • Request more information
  • Careers & internships
    • Careers & internships
    • Undergraduates
    • Graduate students
    • Why hire from the Ford School?
    • Policy Grads at work
  • Research & Action
    • Research
    • Faculty experts
    • Visiting policymakers
    • Research centers
    • Faculty publications
    • Research publications
  • Student life
    • Student life
    • Student organizations
    • Housing
    • Ann Arbor
  • News & events
    • News & events
    • News
    • Events
    • Publications
    • Video
    • Social media
  • Giving
    • Giving
    • Why give
    • Where to give
    • How to give
  1. Home
  2. News
  3. Ford School Alum Patrick Anderson reflects on his experience as 9/11 survivor

News


  • Upcoming Events
  • Past Events
  • News
  • Publications
  • Video
  • Social media
  • Upcoming Events
  • Past Events
  • News
  • Publications
  • Video
  • Social media

Ford School Alum Patrick Anderson reflects on his experience as 9/11 survivor

Wednesday, October 3, 2018

On the morning of September 11, 2001 Patrick Anderson (MPP '83) fled Ground Zero as the second plane flew “directly over his head” prior to striking the South Tower, eventually finding comfort in the arms of a stranger – Emily Maroney, a local New York photographer.

In “Strangers when we meet,” Deborah Holdship’s Michigan Today article details Anderson’s story, which was recently featured on PBS’ We’ll Meet Again—a show hosted by Ann Curry that explores how strangers form deep bonds with one another during times of crisis in order to overcome monumental struggle. Referring to his own continued relationship with Maroney, Anderson recounts how a stranger’s act of kindness served as a reminder that “there’s a goodness in human beings.”

Experiencing his own struggles to maintain a long-distance friendship with Maroney, Anderson has actively sought to unite himself and others with fellow 9/11 survivors to satisfy his “survivor purpose.” Anderson stresses that tragedy should not be the requirement for strangers to put aside their personal differences for the sake of unity. In his goal to bring together survivors and honor the victims, Anderson co-founded the nonprofit Michigan Remembers 9-11 to “memorialize 19 people with connections to Michigan, including U-M alumni.”

A passionate Wolverine, Anderson’s wife Madhu (Rustagi) Anderson also graduated from the Ford School with an MPP in 1984; Anderson’s oldest son Neal graduated from U-M two years ago, while his youngest son Sean is currently a sophomore at U-M's College of Literature, Sciences, and the Arts.

Share This
Tags: 
Ford School of Public Policy, alumni, 9/11, non-profit, Michigan Today, Patrick Anderson, Patrick Anderson, Michigan

Related News

View All
Dec 14, 2018
Announcing newly elected Alumni Board members
Six Ford School alumni have been elected to the Alumni... more
Nov 30, 2018
Professor Susan Dynarski sees a bright future for Ford School's role in new UM-MSU educative partnership
Earlier this week, the University of Michigan and Michigan... more

Related events

View All
Apr
05
Ford School Alumni Board Meeting
The Ford School Alumni Board will be meeting on Friday,... more
May
04
2019 Ford School Commencement
The Ford School is proud to celebrate the achievements of... more

Related Past Events

View All
Feb
21
Climate Change in the Great Lakes Basin: Policy Options and Public Opinion
Free and open to the public. Panelists: Christopher Borick... more
2011 - 
  • 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm
Nov
10
Impact on Inequality: Contributions of Michigan Social Science
An illustrious group of Michigan graduates from fields such... more
2017 - 
  • 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
  • 8:00 am to 4:00 pm

Research Centers

View All
Ford School

The Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy

View Center Website

RESOURCES FOR:

  • Prospective Students
  • Current Students
  • Faculty/Staff
  • Employers
  • Policymakers & Press
  • Alumni
UMFS Ford School Link

Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy

University of Michigan

735 South State Street | Ann Arbor, MI 48109

P: 734-764-3490 | F: 734-763-9181

Twitter
Facebook
Google Plus
Pinterest
Flickr
Youtube
Mission & Values
How to Give
**APPAM** **APSIA** **NASPAA** **PPIA**

About

  • About
  • Why the Ford School?
  • Legacy of Gerald Ford
  • Diversity commitment
  • Engagement
  • Global Ford School
  • Ford School Committee
  • Jobs
  • Contact us
  • Ford School Centennial

Academics

  • Academics
  • Course listing
  • Master's programs
  • Undergraduate program
  • Doctoral program
  • Academic resources
  • STPP Grad Certificate
  • PPIA program

Admissions

  • Admissions
  • Tuition and residency
  • Planning your visit
  • Request more information

Careers & internships

  • Careers & internships
  • Undergraduates
  • Graduate students
  • Why hire from the Ford School?
  • Policy Grads at work

Student life

  • Student life
  • Student organizations
  • Housing
  • Ann Arbor

Research & Action

  • Research
  • Faculty experts
  • Visiting policymakers
  • Research centers
  • Faculty publications
  • Research publications

News & events

  • News & events
  • News
  • Events
  • Publications
  • Video
  • Social media

Giving

  • Giving
  • Why give
  • Where to give
  • How to give

Alumni

  • Alumni
  • Alumni events
  • Stay connected
  • Staebler Award
  • Alumni Board

Intranet

Ford School Home Page© The Regents of the University of Michigan | Non-discrimination policy | U-M | Webmaster | Sitemap | Contact