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Interview With Rob Fazio

Aired September 11, 2003 - 14:18   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: There are so many individual stories of heroism linked to what happened here in this city two years ago today, we couldn't possibly tell them all, of course. There is one that comes to mind and one worth revisiting.
It is the story of Ron Fazio, a man who helped many, many people get out of south tower of the World Trade Center after the plane hit and actually began the evacuation before it. And ultimately as he was leaving, perished, he was struck by falling debris.

His son Rob, who was studying psychology at time, has turned this whole terrible and dreadful experience into something very positive. He's here to join us and talk a little bit about it.

Ron -- Rob, I should say, first of all on this day, our condolences to you and your family. I hope everything is going well. I'm curious what it was like being down there today two years after?

ROB FAZIO, FATHER KILLED IN WTC: We experienced a range of emotions. It was both sad but it was also joyful to see so many people together that had a common bond. I was able to look to my left crying to someone crying, look to the right and see someone embracing and people supporting each other.

O'BRIEN: It's the kind of thing you read in those psychology textbooks and it comes alive for you, doesn't it?

FAZIO: It does but it's actually not you read in the textbooks. Being in the moment is much more powerful. So it's really about being in the moment and living with one another and connecting.

O'BRIEN: Tell us about the Hold the Door Foundation and what you're doing. You're helping people deal with trauma, as you yourself deal with it, and as you yourself become a trained psychologist.

FAZIO: Yes, we help a variety of people, we're not just 9/11- related, which makes us unique. And we decided to use what my dad was doing the last moments of his life to really inspire other Americans to literally hold a door for each other.

So we provide resources. We have an interactive CD-Rom, we have a work book, we hold different fund raisers around the cities. And we try to help people not only just live with loss but grow from that experience.

O'BRIEN: What kinds of thing do you hear from these people? What do they say about your father's inspiring story? FAZIO: They say a range of things. People are just really touched by simple acts of kindness and just by my father's way -- just to think in the presence of mind to open that door. And if we can get people and shift our culture to do simple things like that and hold doors for others, it can be a much better country.

O'BRIEN: Do you feel like you're making progress on this front. It's a big task, isn't it?

FAZIO: Absolutely. And I can tell you right here today with our conversation there are a lot of people that will call and e-mail us at HoldTheDoor.com and they're going to say to us, You know I connected with what you are were saying, and they're going to get something out of it.

O'BRIEN: And these are people hurting themselves or helping others who are in pain or both?

FAZIO: Sure, absolutely. Want to walk with people through their pain, we don't want them to be stuck in their pain. It's OK to feel it, but we also want them to take it a step further and help us walk them through the process.

O'BRIEN: Tell me just a little bit about how -- what memories come to mind on this day of your father?

FAZIO: I would say memories are the phone calls, always the last minute, my dad's availability. His presence of mind not only to get people out but to call my mom because he knew he had to be accountable to my mom.

O'BRIEN: Really? He managed to do all those things, kind of a tremendous -- almost a serenity under fire, if you will?

FAZIO: Absolutely. He was kind of a humble, quiet man. And that day he was assertive and he just did it.

O'BRIEN: How does this anniversary differ if at all from last year? Are the wounds healing at all?

FAZIO: I think the wounds are healing. There is still that deep emotional trauma. People, I feel, are opening up more to connections. i saw more people looking around for others and more people looking to help one another.

O'BRIEN: Lastly, give me a sense, you're helping others. How much has your Web site HoldTheDoor.com and all the outreach that you're involved in. How much has it helped you?

FAZIO: It's helped me a tremendous amount. Making simple connections. I have friends in Philadelphia right now that are in (UNINTELLIGIBLE) right and they every day talk about Hold the Door and it's helps me heal and the relationships I have help me heal.

O'BRIEN: All right, Rob Fazio, thank you for sharing time on what has to be a tremendously difficult day. And we wish you continued success in your efforts to reach out to other who are feeling pain and good luck getting that doctorate.

FAZIO: Thank you, Miles.

O'BRIEN: Thanks for being with us.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com







Aired September 11, 2003 - 14:18   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: There are so many individual stories of heroism linked to what happened here in this city two years ago today, we couldn't possibly tell them all, of course. There is one that comes to mind and one worth revisiting.
It is the story of Ron Fazio, a man who helped many, many people get out of south tower of the World Trade Center after the plane hit and actually began the evacuation before it. And ultimately as he was leaving, perished, he was struck by falling debris.

His son Rob, who was studying psychology at time, has turned this whole terrible and dreadful experience into something very positive. He's here to join us and talk a little bit about it.

Ron -- Rob, I should say, first of all on this day, our condolences to you and your family. I hope everything is going well. I'm curious what it was like being down there today two years after?

ROB FAZIO, FATHER KILLED IN WTC: We experienced a range of emotions. It was both sad but it was also joyful to see so many people together that had a common bond. I was able to look to my left crying to someone crying, look to the right and see someone embracing and people supporting each other.

O'BRIEN: It's the kind of thing you read in those psychology textbooks and it comes alive for you, doesn't it?

FAZIO: It does but it's actually not you read in the textbooks. Being in the moment is much more powerful. So it's really about being in the moment and living with one another and connecting.

O'BRIEN: Tell us about the Hold the Door Foundation and what you're doing. You're helping people deal with trauma, as you yourself deal with it, and as you yourself become a trained psychologist.

FAZIO: Yes, we help a variety of people, we're not just 9/11- related, which makes us unique. And we decided to use what my dad was doing the last moments of his life to really inspire other Americans to literally hold a door for each other.

So we provide resources. We have an interactive CD-Rom, we have a work book, we hold different fund raisers around the cities. And we try to help people not only just live with loss but grow from that experience.

O'BRIEN: What kinds of thing do you hear from these people? What do they say about your father's inspiring story? FAZIO: They say a range of things. People are just really touched by simple acts of kindness and just by my father's way -- just to think in the presence of mind to open that door. And if we can get people and shift our culture to do simple things like that and hold doors for others, it can be a much better country.

O'BRIEN: Do you feel like you're making progress on this front. It's a big task, isn't it?

FAZIO: Absolutely. And I can tell you right here today with our conversation there are a lot of people that will call and e-mail us at HoldTheDoor.com and they're going to say to us, You know I connected with what you are were saying, and they're going to get something out of it.

O'BRIEN: And these are people hurting themselves or helping others who are in pain or both?

FAZIO: Sure, absolutely. Want to walk with people through their pain, we don't want them to be stuck in their pain. It's OK to feel it, but we also want them to take it a step further and help us walk them through the process.

O'BRIEN: Tell me just a little bit about how -- what memories come to mind on this day of your father?

FAZIO: I would say memories are the phone calls, always the last minute, my dad's availability. His presence of mind not only to get people out but to call my mom because he knew he had to be accountable to my mom.

O'BRIEN: Really? He managed to do all those things, kind of a tremendous -- almost a serenity under fire, if you will?

FAZIO: Absolutely. He was kind of a humble, quiet man. And that day he was assertive and he just did it.

O'BRIEN: How does this anniversary differ if at all from last year? Are the wounds healing at all?

FAZIO: I think the wounds are healing. There is still that deep emotional trauma. People, I feel, are opening up more to connections. i saw more people looking around for others and more people looking to help one another.

O'BRIEN: Lastly, give me a sense, you're helping others. How much has your Web site HoldTheDoor.com and all the outreach that you're involved in. How much has it helped you?

FAZIO: It's helped me a tremendous amount. Making simple connections. I have friends in Philadelphia right now that are in (UNINTELLIGIBLE) right and they every day talk about Hold the Door and it's helps me heal and the relationships I have help me heal.

O'BRIEN: All right, Rob Fazio, thank you for sharing time on what has to be a tremendously difficult day. And we wish you continued success in your efforts to reach out to other who are feeling pain and good luck getting that doctorate.

FAZIO: Thank you, Miles.

O'BRIEN: Thanks for being with us.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com