Beverly Eckert, a 9/11 widow and activist, among those killed in plane crash

This story is just sickening, after going through all that and pulling yourself up, just to be killed in a plane crash. Two members of the same family killed by an airplane. What are the odds? Your probably more likely to get hit by a defunct out of control, russian communications satellite.

Eckert, whose husband was in the World Trade Center on 9/11, was flying to Buffalo to launch a scholarship in his memory. She had met with President Obama last week to discuss anti-terror measures.

Last week, Beverly Eckert was at the White House to talk with President Barack Obama about how the new administration could deal with those suspected of terrorism.

This morning, Eckert, the widow of a man who died in the Sept. 11 attack on the World Trade Center, was among the 50 people killed when a commuter plane crashed outside Buffalo, N.Y.


"Beverly was gentle, loving and fragile," said Christy Ferer, another 9/11 widow who knew Eckert. "She was still in pain from her 9/11 loss and consequently pulled back a bit from her 9/11 activities. She was loved and respected by so many."

Eckert's husband, Sean worked at Aon Corp., a risk management firm, on the 98th floor of the World Trade Center's south tower. She often cried when she told how Sean, her high school sweetheart, telephoned her on the morning of the attacks, said he loved her. A loud explosion then silence ended the call.

She was on Continental Connection Flight 3407 to Buffalo to mark her husband's 58th birthday and to launch a scholarship in his memory, President Obama said this morning.

"Tragic events such as these remind us of the fragility of life and the value of every single day," Obama said in televised remarks to the Business Council.

"One person who understood that well was Beverly Eckert, who was on that flight and who I met with just a few days ago. You see, Beverly lost her husband on 9/11 and became a tireless advocate for those families whose lives were forever changed on that September day.

"I pray that her family finds peace and comfort in the hard days ahead," the president said.

Eckert was among the group of relatives of those who died in the terror attacks who worked to make Congress more responsive to the threat from terrorism. The group's work helped push the 2004 reform of the U.S. intelligence system.

When it was over and they'd won passage of the intelligence reform law, Eckert said she would end her high-profile role to return to a quieter life.

"I did all of this for Sean's memory, I did it for him," she said. "I just wanted Sean to come home from work. Maybe now, someone else's Sean will get to come home."