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The inspiration for this book comes from my involvement in sharing my story for the Broadway musical Come From Away. I’m grateful to Michael Rubinoff, associate dean of the Canadian Musical Theater Project at Sheridan College in Toronto. It was his idea to write a musical about Gander, Newfoundland’s response to September 11, 2001. Like me, he believed what happened in Gander on 9/11 needed to be told. Michael recruited the successful husband and wife writing team of David Hein and Irene Sankoff. As a result of the Canadian government providing an arts grant, David and Irene traveled to Newfoundland for a month to fully research the story. Their hard work resulted in the book, lyrics, and music in Come From Away. This musical catapulted from Sheridan College to Broadway’s Schoenfeld Theater in 2017 thanks to the producers from Junkyard Dog Productions, La Jolla Playhouse, the Seattle Rep Theater, and the amazing cast and crew.
In my career, I’m grateful for everyone at EnviroMedia who helped Valerie Salinas-Davis and me create and grow that business. Their loyalty and hard work allowed us to help clients improve public health and the environment while finding ways to demonstrate our commitment to philanthropic efforts like Pay it Forward 9/11. I’m grateful to Catherine Ryan Hyde for writing Pay It Forward and starting a foundation to encourage random acts of kindness.
I thank God for giving me an amazing family, especially my parents James and Julie Tuerff. Their unwavering love and support has been a source of constant encouragement. I also appreciate the encouragement of my three brothers and their families: Brian and Jana Tuerff; Jeff and Lynn Tuerff; Greg and Jayne Tuerff; and eight remarkable nieces and nephews.
I am grateful to these friends for their help and support with this book: Mark Aitala & Sara Beechner, Kevin Burns, Diane Davis, Claude Elliott, Dan & Melanie Fish, Sue Frost, Rebecca Geier, David Hein and Irene Sankoff, Kitten Howard, Chad Kimball, Margaret Lee, John Markey, O.P., Nick and Diane Marson, Mac & Nellie Moss, Maureen Murray and Sue Riccardelli, Michael Rubinoff, Sean Price, Michael Staffieri, Tom Stawicki and Beverly Bass, Todd Savage, Brett Will Taylor, and Ron and Sue Walsh.
I am also grateful for my team at River Grove Books and Greenleaf Book Group, including Hobbs Allison, April Murphy, Daniel Pedersen, and Brian Phillips.