Retired Couple Spends Holidays Helping Sept. 11 Victims

This article is one in a series of profiles of American Red Cross volunteers who responded to the September 11 terrorist attacks.

Written by Stephanie Kriner, Staff Writer, RedCross.org

December 26, 2001 — A few sprigs from a Christmas tree decorate the Brown's Comfort Inn hotel room. Dee brown and her husband, Lew, are spending the season far from their home and family. But the two American Red Cross volunteers, who have been helping victims of the Sept. 11 tragedy for three months, are still needed.

"Dee says we'll stay until they don't need us, and I want to stay for continuity. I'm able to answer a lot of questions that volunteers who are just arriving won't be able to answer," Lew said.

Working at the American Red Cross call center, in what was once a furniture store in Falls Church, Va., where volunteers assist hotline callers who lost loved ones, jobs or homes in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, can be somber. However, Lew, 76, has the kind of presence that makes coworkers smile. He likes to tell stories and jokes. The former Hollywood actor also hands out autographed copies listing the hundreds of T.V. and movie roles he played.

Lew has a knack for putting irate or emotional charged callers at ease. He supervises hotline operators who often must turn to him when they can't rid the concerns in the voices on the other end other of the line. Sometimes a caller may be discouraged about financial issues or confused about how the Red Cross works. Lew always remains in control, answers their questions and puts their fears to rest. "You have to be calm and let them drive the conversation," he explains.

For Lew, the endless acts of kindness he is able to perform by telling people about Red Cross assistance they are getting is what it's all about. "I've had it pretty easy most of my life. I never was rich, but I was never hungry. I just want to try and give back a little bit," he says.

Several aisles of hotline callers away from Lew's station, Dee, 56, sits at the door to greet volunteers arriving - many for the first time - to help. Dee, who has always worked by her husband's side helping families get assistance during disaster, has become expert at another role. As part of the staffing department at the Red Cross call center in Virginia, Dee is the first person to greet new volunteers, and the last one to thank them as they leave the job.

Dee and Lew Brown are spending the holidays working at Ground Zero.

She has grown sensitive to the needs of volunteers entering and leaving the sometimes stressful environment. "I try to be friendly when new staff arrives and appreciative when they leave," said Dee, adding that some volunteers need assurance that what they did made a difference, no matter if their role was to talk directly to families or administrative assistance.

Dee and Lew share a lot of the same interests - serving together in the Rotary Club, volunteering at a battered women's shelter and snorkeling in Maui where they retired after leaving Los Angeles 11 years ago. But working disasters - carrying their pagers so they can respond at a moment to everything from house fires to typhoons -- together has been the most rewarding experience they've shared, she says. "We're able to debrief each other every evening and when one of us is feeling down about something, the other one is able to pick him up," Dee says.

Although happy to be in Virginia helping the Red Cross, Dee admits that the holiday away from her family has been tough, especially when her son told her that her 5-year-old grandson said that he wanted to see his grandmother for Christmas.

"I think a lot of the Christmas spirit will be with us. That Lew and I are together is the most important thing, and we'll definitely be calling our kids," she says.

As for their life in Maui, Lew says there is no rush to return. "As long as they need me, I'm serving the Red Cross," he says. "Then I'll go back home, watch a few sunsets, snorkel and catch some fish."

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