Among those missing and feared dead from the Hightstown-East Windsor area is Ruth Lapin, a local Girl Scout troop leader and Twin Rivers resident.
By: T.J. Furman
Last week’s terrorist attacks that toppled the World Trade Center, crushed part of the Pentagon and brought down an airliner in Pennsylvania have likely claimed at least six lives from the East Windsor-Hightstown area.
Overall, reports have indicated that more than 5,600 people likely died in the Sept. 11 attacks. New York City officials have said 5,422 are missing at the World Trade Center site, officials have projected the death toll at the Pentagon to be 189 and 45 people died when United Airline flight 93 crashed southeast of Pittsburgh.
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America attacked: Two township residents feared dead (Sept. 13, 2001) Terror’s shockwaves felt locally (Sept. 14, 2001) Anger, sadness among range of emotions (Sept. 14, 2001) Area ministry, schools respond to grief-stricken (Sept. 14, 2001) Terrorists ask for war (Sept. 14, 2001) Helping children cope with disaster (Sept. 14, 2001) Terror attacks claim at least six local residents (Sept. 21, 2001) Building a garden to remember (Sept. 21, 2001) Former Hightstown man hero of Flight 93 (Sept. 21, 2001) Township Council to eye memorial (Sept. 21, 2001) Priest’s painting inspires parishoners (Sept. 21, 2001) Area Muslims condemn attacks (Sept. 21, 2001) Tragedy forces new sense of perspective (Sept. 21, 2001) Children want to help, too (Sept. 21, 2001) |
Still reportedly listed as missing and feared dead at the trade center are East Windsor residents Ruth Lapin, Neil Lai, Debbie Bellows, Colleen Barkow and Anil Bharvaney.
Lorraine Bay of East Windsor was a flight attendant aboard the doomed jetliner that crashed in Stonycreek, Pa.
Also killed aboard that flight was former Hightstown resident Todd Beamer, who recently moved with his family to Cranbury. It is believed Mr. Beamer was one of the passengers responsible for wresting control of the plane from a group of terrorists before it had a chance to smash into another building, possibly in Washington, D.C. (see story, Page 6A)
Ms. Lapin was working on the 77th floor of the trade center’s south tower for Baseline Financial System Co., according to her husband, David Chazin.
Mr. Chazin also works in Manhattan and heard about the first attack on the north tower as soon as he arrived, just before 9 a.m.
"We have a conference room and there were a number of people watching the television," Mr. Chazin recalled. "That’s how I found out. I watched it live when World Trade Two collapsed, which is where my wife worked."
Mr. Chazin had difficulty remembering a week later how he felt as the building in which his wife worked crumbled to the ground.
"It was sort of an empty feeling, I guess," he said, "an empty feeling in my chest or my gut, I guess."
Ms. Lapin, 53, and Mr. Chazin have been married for seven years following an eight-year engagement. Mr. Chazin said the couple had waited until children from previous marriages had moved away before deciding to wed.
The pair had plans of buying a bed and breakfast sometime in the near future and moving away from East Windsor. It was the type of job that would have suited his wife perfectly, Mr. Chazin said.
"She was a very upbeat person," he said. "She took a great deal of pleasure in helping other people and bringing them joy."
Mr. Chazin said the bed and breakfast "would satisfy her desire to make people happy."
Another endeavor in Ms. Lapin’s life that her husband said fit that description of her was her volunteer work up until a year ago as a Girl Scout leader for Troop 209. It has been several years since one of Ms. Lapin’s daughters or granddaughters was in the Girl Scouts.
"She felt that was one of the best ways in the world to make a difference, while kids were young," Mr. Chazin said. "Ruth loved kids."
After attending stand-up comedy classes in New York, Ms. Lapin made her stand-up debut at Caroline’s Comedy Club in the city, said Isabel McGinty, who was also a leader for Troop 209 with Ms. Lapin since 1994. Ms. McGinty said, while laughing at the recollection of Ms. Lapin’s routine, that her friend would often perform shows at the Hightstown Elks Lodge during fund-raisers.
Ms. McGinty said Ms. Lapin was "absolutely reliable. You could count on her for anything."
She recalled one story where her troop was sent 300 more boxes of Girl Scout cookies than it had sold. Instead of sending them back, Ms. Lapin hauled the boxes around in her car and gradually sold them off.
"Ruth thought it was hilarious," Ms. McGinty said.
A large network of friends Ms. Lapin had developed over her 53 years has helped Mr. Chazin make it through this difficult part of his life.
"Over the years Ruth had touched a lot of lives in a positive way, so I’ve been busy getting in touch with people," Mr. Chazin explained. "I haven’t had much time to be alone. I guess I’ve had a chance to acclimate to the situation gradually."
The loss has been a tremendous one, according to Ms. McGinty.
"This catastrophe is so enormous," Ms. McGinty said. "You can pick just any small part of it and the grief is overwhelming."
Mr. Chazin said he would usually stay in a hotel in New York City during the week while Ms. Lapin would travel back to East Windsor. However, Ms. Lapin decided to stay in the city Monday night, Sept. 10, in order to watch "Monday Night Football" with her husband.
A big football fan, Ms. Lapin wanted to see her favorite team, the New York Giants, take on the Denver Broncos.
The next morning, Mr. Chazin saw his wife for the last time when they kissed goodbye at 7:30 a.m. Sept. 11.
A memorial service has been planned in memory of Ms. Lapin for 1 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 30, at the American Hotel on Main Street in Freehold, where Ms. Lapin grew up.

