Coworker gifted him a Monet tie before his 9/11 meeting in the North Tower. Her fashion critique saved his life
Joseph Lott's co-worker knew how much he loved quirky and artistic ties, which he used to play quiz games with his daughters
11 September, 2001, remains one of the darkest, most tragic days in modern American history. When most people think of that morning, they rightly picture first responders as heroes. Yet few heroes that day needed no uniform at all. Just ask Joseph Lott, a Compaq sales representative saved by one of them: his coworker Elaine Greenberg. Over breakfast at the Marriott between the Twin Towers, she gifted Lott a red-and-blue Monet tie she had picked up in Massachusetts, knowing he loved them. But when he insisted on wearing it right then, she stopped and critiqued his fashion. What followed was bittersweet, as reported by The Atlantic's Garrett M. Graff on September 10, 2019.
TIL about 9/11 survivor Joseph Nathaniel Lott, who nearly died in the Windows on the World restaurant with his other three coworkers. Walking to the elevator 20 minutes before Flight 11 hit, he decided to change into a tie one of them had just given him as a gift.
by u/SacKingsRS in todayilearned
A father's colorful tradition
Long before that fateful Tuesday morning, Lott had turned his wardrobe into an ongoing masterclass for his three daughters. He collected neckties stamped with fine art, transforming his daily routine into a beloved game with his three young girls. "Artist identification?" He would ask them, waiting to see if they could spot a difference between a Monet water lily and a fiery Van Gogh sky. It was a lighthearted habit, but one his colleagues, especially Greenberg at Compaq, knew well.
A thoughtful gesture
On that day, Lott sat down for breakfast with his peers at the Marriott hotel, situated right between the Twin Towers. Among them was Greenberg, a generous, culture-loving New York financial consultant who had just returned from a trip to Massachusetts. Having spotted a tie that seemed tailor-made for Lott, she couldn't help but surprise him with it. "It was red and blue, primarily," Lott remembered. He was moved by this act of kindness from his teammate, who kept him in her thoughts while away on vacation.
A playful fashion critique
With him being scheduled to deliver a presentation that morning at Windows on the World, the celebrated restaurant perched on the North Tower's 104th floor, Lott had an idea. He decided that he wanted to honor Greenberg's gesture by wearing the tie during the meeting. But just as he announced this to Greenberg, she stopped him. "Well, not with that shirt. You’re not going to put on a red-and-blue tie with a green shirt," she said. So, while the others headed up to Windows on the World, Lott went back to his hotel room to change shirts.
A delay that saved his life
In his room, Lott plugged in an iron and pressed wrinkles out of a white shirt and put on the new tie. At that time, he was unaware that every second he was spending there was sparing his life. Dressed and ready, Lott stepped out of his room. But just as he was waiting for the elevator to go back to the lobby, he felt a sudden movement in the building, and soon realized what had happened. Nevertheless, Lott managed to navigate through the chaos and escape the complex alive that day.
It wouldn't have been possible without Greenberg, who unfortunately couldn't survive. The 56-year-old financial consultant was remembered by those who loved her as an opera devotee and a fun aunt for her nephews. As for Lott, that vibrant Monet tie would become something far more than just an accessory. It was the last memory of Greenberg, something the Mississippi native and marine veteran cherished until he passed away peacefully in his home on January 7, 2026, surrounded by his family and loved ones, aged 75.
Americans still remember the attacks
It's stories like these that make Americans reflect on the September 11 attacks even to this day. According to a Pew Research survey, 76% of adults rank the attacks as one of their top 10 historical events of all time. Most of them remember how they felt when they first heard or watched the incident. While a striking 92% reported feeling extreme sadness, another 77% stated they were frightened by the unfolding reality. Lastly, 61% of adults living in the New York metropolitan area confirmed that this incident altered their day-to-day life nearly one year after it happened.
The survivor's guilt
The story was shared on Reddit by u/SacKingsRS, and people couldn't help but feel sad for Greenberg. u/TerminalOrbit noted, "She saved his life with that tie, and admonition to wear a different shirt with it... I would wear that tie in her honor for the rest of my life, if I were he." At the same time, u/BeneathTheSassafras commented, "The guilt may be as equally massive as the gratitude. One single gift, a tie of all things, and he survives. The absurdity and how surreal it is would do a number on me."
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