In loving memory of my friend and former classmate at Boston University, Lisa Frost, who lost her life at 22 when United Airlines Flight 175 slammed into the South Tower of the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001.
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On September 11th, 2001, I was starting my senior year of college attending Boston University’s School of Hospitality Administration. It was a beautiful Tuesday morning – clear skies full of sunshine and a nice warm breeze. On my walk to Nutrition Sciences that morning I stopped at student food court to grab a Starbucks for class.
That was the last normal thing that took place on September 11th, 2001. From the minute I walked in the door, I knew something wasn’t right. Crowds and crowds of students were huddled around the television screens throughout the building. A normally loud building was suddenly silent as everyone was glued to the television.
When I whispered to someone asking what was going on all I heard was “The World Trade Towers have fallen down.” To be 100% honest: at that moment, I wasn’t even sure what they were talking about as I was more familiar with the much smaller world trade tower in Boston than the twin towers in NYC.
Class went on as normal. I remember the professor acknowledging the crisis but stating that she wanted to continue on as normal as possible. In hindsight, I’m glad she gave us the gift of a few more normal hours.
The rest of the day is a bit of a blur until I received the phone call I will never forget from my friend and fellow hospitality student, Estee. When I picked up the phone she blurted “Lisa was on the 2nd plane. Lisa was on the 2nd plane that hit the World Trade Center.”
I collapsed on my bed in my apartment located on the 17th floor of a building overlooking the Boston skyline. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Immediately I recalled the email Lisa sent me just days prior with the sentence “I will email you when I get to California on Tuesday.”
Lisa never got to California on Tuesday. Lisa’s parents never got to greet her at the airport. Lisa’s boyfriend never got to welcome her back. Lisa’s best friend never got a roommate in the apartment they had leased for the new year in San Francisco.
Lisa Frost was 22 years old when she boarded the plane to move back home after graduating from Boston University with a dual major in Hospitality Administration and Communications. She was the speaker of her class and one year ahead of me. She was my mentor in every shape of the word. In fact, when I was speaker of my class the following year her parents came to show support.
Lisa embodied enthusiasm, hard work and warmth. Her smile lit up every room she entered. She was incredibly smart, hugely talented and highly motivated.
I think of Lisa all year round. She would have been in her 40’s by now and I know she would be doing tremendous things with her life. I miss her every day.
To read more about Lisa, here are a few obituaries:
Rancho Family Honors Daughter Lost on 9/11, Remembering Lisa Frost and On 9/11, a Father’s Reminder of His Daughter
Hello Liz,
This is such a nice tribute to a wonderful person. Although I never had the honor of knowing Lisa personally, I grew up in her neighboring town and I have friends who knew her in high school. From what I hear she was such an amazing, intelligent, and positive human being. I can only imagine the pain you felt on that day 19 years ago. Every 9/11 I think of her and pay some kind of respect. You are right, I am sure she would be doing great things in life today had she not boarded that flight. The world needs more people like her. Again, very nice tribute!
Thank you so much for sharing your memory of Lisa, Stephen.
What a sad story. While it’s sad Lisa died that day. However a day will come you go to heaven and Lisa will look out distance and run over to you and you girls will never separated again when that happens
Hello Liz, I am of course thinking of Lisa today, as I often do, and I came across this site with my comment you posted in 2018. It’s wonderful that you are committed to keeping Lisa’s memory alive. We often hear that we will never forget, and you are helping others with that promise. I think it’s especially important for young people to see specific memories shared by others. Wishing you the best.
Thank you so much for this kind note, Dianne. I appreciate you reaching out. I miss Lisa daily.
Hi Liz,
Thank you for sharing your memories of Lisa. I was a teacher at her high school. Lisa was the Key Club President and I was the advisor, she volunteered many times all alone because she wanted to make her community better. When I saw her name across the bottom of the screen the evening of 9/11, I was devastated and reached out to another teacher friend to confirm it was “our” Lisa. A couple years later, I ran my first half marathon. Someone was there with a sign with Lisa’s name on it. I cried for the last mile. She was an amazing person. Thank you for writing about her as you did. I will never forget her.
Hi Felicia, Thank you so much for your note. I’m so glad you found this tribute to Lisa. I miss her and think of her constantly. She will never be forgotten.
My husband David Frost was Lisa’s cousin. I remember him talking about her growing up. David has passed away november 2009. I still now remember him speaking of her
Thank you so much for writing Pamela. I think of Lisa every day.
Hello, Liz,
You are a truly wonderful friend, and I am sure Lisa would be very grateful for your sharing about her life. My daughter was in Lisa’s graduating class at BU. Although my daughter did not know Lisa, I have kept Lisa in my thoughts and prayers since I first saw her beautiful face on the news in 2001. She is one of my links to never forget the many wonderful people we lost that day. I also think of Lisa’s family and friends and wish the best for all of you with warmest regards.
Hi Dianne, Thank you so much for your note. It warms my heart to hear you think of Lisa and her family often as I do as well. What a small world that your daughter was in her graduating class. Thank you again for writing.
Hello, Liz. What a wonderful tribute to Lisa. She had worked in our company in Laguna Hills,CA that summer, or perhaps it was the summer before. My memory has quiet faded now.
However, I have a young friend who said that he was only in 3rd grade then when the teacher put on the TV in their classroom and no one really knew exactly what that attack meant.
I told him what it meant to me and that Lisa Frost was on that plane.
To your friend, Lisa.
Never forget.
Thank you so much for reading and sharing Paul. Lisa will always be missed and I think of her almost daily.
My daughter Amy attended St John’s grammar school with Lisa. It was a very sad day for the community of Rancho Santa Margarita. Her dad carries on her passion for the food bank she volunteered for. My wife led the Santa Margarita Catholic Hogh charity auction where we had truckload of goods donated for the theme that year (New Orleans) where we had two pickup loads of canned goods, Zattaran rice and beans and lots of famous meats to go to her charity. Her dad Tom told us why he does this. We let him know Alisa was a classmate in grammar school with my daughter. Very saf
Thank you so much for writing in Paul. This makes me so happy to hear. I would love to get in touch with her dad one of these days somehow. This makes my heart warm. Thank you again.
It Makes Me Cry Every Single Day For the loss Of Such Sweet Caring Girl, Everyday I Used To See Her Photo And pray For Her Soul, She Deserved To Live, So Sad, I Wish I could there On The Plane With Her And try to Stop The Terrorists, so sad, Thank you for Sharing
Thank you so much for reading!
I would like to add that I think it is amazing that Lisa’s airline miles card was found.
Isn’t it amazing? So incredible that it didn’t melt.
I am so sorry for the loss of your friend. What a loving tribute to your Lisa. I’m sending you hugs and prayers on this most difficult day.
Thank you so much for reading and for your kind words- it means a lot.
I was at BU that day too – perhaps around some of the same TVs. While I never met Lisa, I was the advisor to her best friend that you mentioned. That day, I stepped out of my role as an advisor to be a triage counselor, hand holder, and literal shoulder to cry on. I attended a couple memorial gatherings that month for Lisa. This is a beautiful piece and really brought me right back to it all. As I did then, I still now offer my condolences to all who knew her. There is no doubt a bright and shining light was put out far too soon 14 years ago today.
Wow!! What a small world! Thank you so much for sharing your story and letting me know. It is comforting to know how many others remember Lisa as well.
Thanks for writing this. Lisa was one of my first friends freshman year (same floor Warren Towers). I still remember seeing her name across the ticker on Sept. 12 and the shock and horror I felt. It crushes me to think of all of the amazing things we lost that she would have achieved because of how caring, driven, and passionate Lisa was.
Hugs and Prayers to you, her family, Jan, and so many of the rest of us who were blessed to have known her and been touched by her.
Oh my goodness that is crazy Jesse that you met at Warren Towers. Thank you so much for writing – it is comforting to hear from others who knew Lisa.
It makes me so sad to read this, but I know it’s so important to remember the lives of those lost that day, and send extra love to those who loved them Thank you for sharing her story, and allowing all of us to support you. xx Sending you warmth and light today.
I appreciate your kind thoughts Caroline – thank you so much for reading Lisa’s story.
This is the first time I’ve seen this, Liz. I am so sorry. Lisa memory lives on through you–what a wonderful gift to her.
Thank you so much for reading Carrie.
I’m so sorry for your loss, your tribute brought tears to my eyes. What a good friend she had in you to remember and play tribute to her in your heart and on your page xoxo
Thank you so much for reading.
Sending hugs and comfort on this hard time of the year. Thank you for writing all that you do :)
Thank you so much Rachel.
I’m so sorry to hear about the loss of your friend. What a wonderful friend you are to remember her this way. I’ll never forget that day. Never.
Thank you so much for reading Shawn. xo