Donald Freeman Greene May 21, 1949 – September 11, 2001

Connor Ewing
September 02, 2009

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For Donald Greene, aviation was a part of everyday life. After graduating from Brown University in 1971 and then completing a degree in business, Greene joined Safe Flight Instrument Corporation. As Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, his job was dedicated to the development of products that made flying safe and efficient.  The White Plains, NY firm also sponsored Corporate Angel Network, a program to fly cancer victims throughout the U.S. for treatment. Greene was one of the heroes of United Flight 93.

Although aviation was his job, Greene’s top priority was his family at home in Greenwich, Connecticut. Known for dining with them every evening, making breakfast on the weekends, and coaching his kids’ soccer teams, he was a committed husband and loving father. The importance of family was emphasized throughout Greene’s life. After his father died, his mother married Leonard Greene, who adopted Donald and his three brothers. Years later, Donald’s mother passed away and Leonard remarried. Far from weakening the Greenes, these trying events strengthened the bonds of love between the members of the family, which had grown to number fourteen. It was an annual tradition for the siblings to spend the Thanksgiving week together at a resort. Flight 93 was transporting Greene to the West Coast for a hiking trip with four of his brothers.

In the 2006 movie United 93, Greene was portrayed as one of the passengers that led the courageous effort to regain control of the plane. To Cecilia Rhoda, his sister-in-law, this characterization made complete sense. “There’s no question in our minds he was in control of the plane at the end,” said Rhoda.

Donald Greene is survived by his wife, Claudette, son, Charlie, and daughter, Jody.

The national memorial to United Flight 93 will be located on the site where the 40 heroes crashed the plane in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, defeating the agenda of the jihadist terrorists to hit Washington, DC. There is also a memorial chapel for Flight 93 in Friedens, PA.

A 9/11 memorial plaque on the front lawn of the State Capital in Hartford, Connecticut reads, “We mourn the victims; we honor the heroes.” Donald was one of the heroes.