9/11: Remembering Renée
Today I am thinking of a blond girl with dimples and blue eyes who should be wondering who she’ll eat lunch with at her junior high. Last week she would have talked about the new school year with her mom, Renée, who left her job as a flight attendant at American Airlines in 2002 because the stress of being responsible for the safety of her passengers was beginning to take its toll.
Instead, the names “Renée A. May and her unborn child” are carved into stone in New York City at the 9/11 Memorial.
An early call to duty on the morning of 9/11 placed Renée May of Baltimore, Maryland on American Flight 77. Before the morning was over, Renée had placed two calls to her parents, asking them to alert American Airlines that their flight had been hijacked. That flight ended in concrete at the Pentagon at 9:37 a.m.
Pregnant at age 39, Renée was engaged to David Spivock, who told The Washington Post that Renée loved to knit special blankets for friends and loved art, volunteering at an art museum where she gave tours for children. He told the Post Renée was the nicest person he’d ever met.
I didn’t know Renée May.
Standing at the 9/11 memorial in March 2012, cocooned in the soothing sound of cascading water, I read names. As my eyes paused on “Renée A. May and her unborn child,” I felt a depth of loss. I knew nothing about this woman, but I took a photo of her place on the memorial. Later, I looked her up online and found a beautiful smile, dimples and bright eyes looking back at me from my screen.
Now, on 9/11, I think of this woman I never met. A woman called kind and thoughtful. A woman, who at age 39, was about to become a mother. A woman who left behind unfinished blankets and an unfinished life.
Carved into stone, into our hearts and into history, let these names live in our conversations and our memories.
Renée, I think we could have been friends.
I'm the adviser of the Canyon High newspaper and yearbook staffs, and I love starting my day with this talented staff. We hope you'll join us daily for new content. I'm a graduate of Texas A&M University where I studied Secondary Curriculum and Instruction...
Kelli Padgett • Sep 11, 2021 at 1:29 pm
After 9/11 I ordered a bracelet of remembrance. The one I got randomly had Renee May’s name on it. I think about her a lot but especially today. It was 20 years ago today.
Michael • Sep 10, 2020 at 10:14 pm
I went to high school with Renee.She was a special person.Always caring for others and willing to anyone in any way she could. The world was a better place with Renee in it.God bless her family.RIP Renee
Gary Risner • Sep 11, 2019 at 10:50 am
Renee was a friend of mine, she was sweet and beautiful. She was actually my friends older sister and I remember clearly all the times she would pick Jeff and I up at high school when she was home from flying. I had a childhood crush on her, who wouldn’t. I am so devastated over the loss of her as she was finally married and having a baby and had a wonderful life in front of her. I will always cherish the memories of Renee and I will never get over the anger I have to the pigs that did this to her, her baby and our country! Thank you for remembering her!
adviser • Sep 11, 2019 at 11:01 am
Thank you so much for responding. I was just telling my class about the tie I feel to her even though I never actually met her. She is the face of 9/11 to me. Blessings to you.
Sandy • Sep 11, 2018 at 4:23 pm
Renee May was a wonderful, caring person . July of 1999 we had to uproot our family and take our son to Johns Hopkins Hospital for a surgery that only Dr. John Gearhart was able to perform. A friend of mine named Mary met us at Johns Hopkins and was staying with her friend Renee May. Renee opened her house and her heart to my daughters. While my husband and I were taking care of our son, Mary and Renee took care of my daughters. Keeping them busy and taking their minds of their brother’s medical situation. They took my daughters shopping and to the museums. On July 4th Renee opened her house to my family since we did not know any one in Baltimore and had no place to go to celebrate the 4th of July Holiday. I will always remember the kindness that Renee showed to my family and she will always have a special place in our hearts and especially in the hearts of my daughters.
I am sorry that I did not get to know her as well as my daughters, but I know that in that short time my daughters found a new friend and will always cherish that friendship. Renee May was a very special person and we do miss her dearly.
adviser • Sep 12, 2018 at 7:58 pm
Thank you so very much for sharing your memory of Renee. I cannot explain the tie I feel to her, yet I am so drawn to her and her story. I appreciate knowing your story more than I tell you. Blessings to you and your family.
Stephanie Kotula • Sep 4, 2022 at 4:38 pm
Renee May was my husband’s cousin. Just read these beautiful comments to him. It is amazing that you were able capture her essence. Thank you for carrying her name and her life in with your thoughts snd prayers. She won’t be forgotten. There is a story circulating that someone purchased her donated luggage through a thrifts store. They felt the same way too about her. Gives everyone in the family peace!