Neil Levin, 46, “He Had a Big Life”

Courtesy of SUNY Levin Institute.

Neil Levin, 46, formerly of Atlantic Beach was the Executive Director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the organization in charge of the metro area’s airports, ports, tunnels, bridges and the landlord of the World Trade Center site.

Only a six months before September 11th, Levin was appointed as Executive Director by then-Governor George Pataki in March. He worked inside of the North Tower of the World Trade Center on the 68th floor.

“With his tremendous managerial skills and extensive experience in both the public and private sectors, I know that Neil Levin will do a superb job as the next Executive Director of the Port Authority,” said the governor in a press release then.

Levin grew up in Atlantic Beach, where his mother Gloria still resides. He attended Lafayette College in Pennsylvania, earning a bachelor’s degree in economics and later C.W. Post Center of Long Island University receiving a master’s degree in business administration. He later attended Hofstra University to earn a law degree.

“He had a big life,” his mother Gloria said, noting she would not know where to start telling his life story. “I love him a lot, but that goes without saying.”

In 1984, Levin worked as a counsel to the securities subcommittee of the Senate Banking Committee. He joined the investment firm Goldman Sachs in 1985 and was promoted to vice president two years later. Governor Pataki named Levin the superintendent of state banks in 1994 and superintendent of State Insurance Department in 1997. The same year, Pataki also named Levin the head of the Commission on the Recovery of Holocaust Victims’ Assets.

Levin married broadcast journalist Christine Ferer in May 1996. Ferer has gone on to become the liaison to 9/11 families for New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and a board member of The 9/11 Memorial.

Gov. Pataki announced on September 25th, 2001 the establishment of Neil D. Levin Graduate Institute of International Relations and Commerce, part of the State University system.

— Scott P. Moore