Sept. 11, 2001 is a day no American will forget, and it has scarred members of a Clearfield County family and left them emotionally distraught.
On that day, Mary Ellen Tiesi, 38, originally of Irvona, was working on the 105th floor of the South Tower of the World Trade Center.
The South Tower was the second of the Twin Towers to be struck by a plane hijacked by terrorists at 9:03 a.m.
Theresa Vesnesky, Tiesi’s sister, who worked close to the World Trade Center, said she went running to look for her sister that day.
“People were running away, north, and I was trying to run away, south, against the crowd, because I knew what exit Mary Ellen would use and I wanted to get her,” said Vesnesky.
That day, Tiesi became one of thousands of people who lost their lives in the terrorist attacks.
“I knew she wasn’t coming out when I saw the second explosion. There was a big explosion and then a small explosion. I knew she had helped somebody,” said Vesnesky.
Days later, Vesnesky and her family learned just that. After Tiesi’s building was struck, she wanted to make sure co-workers, including her boss, who had a heart condition, exited safely.
Tiesi’s boss got out that day. Tiesi did not.
“We didn’t hear from her. We didn’t hear from her. We filed for a missing person, but nothing,” said Joe Tiesi, Mary Ellen’s brother.
For one month the Tiesi family searched diligently for Mary Ellen. She was never found.
“It was absolutely horrible. Nobody knows until they lose a child what the feeling is,” said Ellen “Mick” Tiesi, Mary Ellen’s mother.
On Thursday morning, a bridge over Clearfield Creek was dedicated and named in honor of Mary Ellen Tiesi’s heroism.
State Rep. Camille “Bud” George, D-74 of Houtzdale, drafted House Bill 1827 proposing the designation.
“God love her. I’m sure she’s looking down and is very happy to see all the people that care,” said George.
To this day, the remains of Mary Ellen Tiesi still have not been found. Family members said they are hopeful that one day, there will be a DNA match.
