Chester 9/11 Survivor, Author Tackles Trauma With Faith, Hope

CHESTER, NJ — William “Will” Jimeno hasn’t had what many would consider an ordinary life.

He’s a Colombian immigrant who grew up in Hackensack beginning in his toddler years, to later serve in the U.S. Navy, to then come home for college from San Diego and meet the woman he’d later marry, before becoming a Port Authority Police Officer.

One of the defining moments of his life though was Sept. 11, 2001, when he faced one of the world’s most unthinkable acts of terror, leaving him buried under the rubble of the World Trade Center for 13 hours.

His story of that fateful day was cemented in film history when Oliver Stone picked it up for “World Trade Center” in 2006, with actor Michael Peña playing Jimeno and Nicholas Cage cast as fellow trapped officer John McLoughlin.

A faith-filled man, now 53, who calls Stone a dear family friend, Jimeno’s since taken his triumphant survival story over hurdles, including post-traumatic stress disorder, to help both children and adults through two books, “Immigrant, American Survivor - A Little Boy Who Grew Up To Be All Three,” co-authored and illustrated by Charles Riccardi; and his latest book “Sunrise Through The Darkness - A Survivor’s Account Of Learning To Live Again Beyond 9/11,” co-authored with psychologist Michael Moats.

Sunrise Through The Darkness is scheduled for pre-order on Monday, with a planned release date of Aug. 16.

It took time for Jimeno to come to a place where he could help others, having struggled himself both physically and emotionally from the tragedy. His start though came when he was living in Clifton and a friend asked if he could speak to students, who were fearful to fly after the terrorist attacks, Jimeno told Patch.

It was the start of his journey in helping others to heal from trauma and especially with the 20th anniversary of the terror attacks in 2021, when he will share his story again at the 9/11 Memorial and Museum for a school 9/11 anniversary webinar.

Immigrant, American Survivor - A Little Boy Who Grew Up To Be All Three

Jimeno moved to Chester Borough in 2004 with his wife Allison and two daughters Bianca, 23 and Olivia, 19, who was born two months after the attacks on the World Trade Center.

“We just love everything about Chester,” he said.

It was living in Chester that brought him to his next leg of the journey in helping others.

For years, Jimeno said people have encouraged him to write a book about his experiences, especially for children, but he wasn’t sure how to start.

His book-writing career came during a serendipitous lunch in Mendham he and his wife had with friends Alison and Marc D'Agostino in 2019. The D’Agostinos suggested Jimeno contact Alison D’Agostino’s brother, Charles Ricciardi, an experienced author and illustrator himself.

Ricciardi’s prior books include the children’s books “The Night The Bullies Were Bullied!” and “I’ll Do My Homework…But First!” He’s additionally penned a novel “The Great Appalachian Trail Race.” His illustrating background also led him to another project as an independent filmmaker.

Though Ricciardi admitted he was nervous when he and Jimeno first talked on the phone in 2020, when Ricciardi called him to ask about the progress of his book - which it hadn’t progressed at that point - the two bonded quickly. They shared the commonality of having been students at Bergen County Community College and work as newspaper carriers in their youth for the Bergen Record while growing up.

It was during the pandemic that Ricciardi and Jimeno teamed up to embark on their project.

“He told me he hadn't started it yet. I was thinking to myself this is too important of a story not to put out there. I asked him if he would be interested in writing it together, and to have me illustrate,” Ricciardi said.

“When he said 'yes' and the experience became a reality, I was filled with excitement, but also a bit of trepidation,” Ricciardi added. “I knew that this was sensitive material that needed to be handled carefully.”

Their work style complemented each another in what Ricciardi described “a great collaboration.”

Their book Immigrant, American Survivor - A Little Boy Who Grew Up To Be All Three, is available for sale in many places, both in English and Spanish, including the 9/11 Memorial and Museum.

"Seeing people's reactions and comments to Immigrant, American, Survivor on social media, on Amazon and at the 9/11 Memorial and Museum has been so rewarding,” Ricciardi said. “There's no doubt that Will's story inspires, and I am very proud to be part of such a positive book that engages children and captures that spirit."

Jimeno’s message comes from a place that’s most comfortable for him to share, even in spite of the pain he’s endured from his experiences.

“I speak from my heart,” Jimeno said.

He feels blessed by his life, Jimeno said and the lessons he’s learned from it.

Sunrise Through The Darkness - A Survivor’s Account Of Learning To Live Again Beyond 9/11

Jimeno had it in his heart to write his second book and found another co-author, psychologist Michael Moats, to work with him on the project, to speak on the psychological and clinical aspects of the mental health end of the story, while Jimeno wrote from his personal perspective.

His wife Allison even has penned her own chapter on the secondary impacts of PTSD.

“I couldn’t have asked for a better woman in my life,” Jimeno said of her, the couple now married 25 years.

Stone also gave the book his praise.

“A vivid, grueling, step-by-step return from the dead to the living… A true story of faith, hope, and love from a man who survived 9/11 at the World Trade Center.,” Stone wrote. “Will inspire you, especially those without hope and those who seek to help others in jeopardy.”

Thoughts On Overcoming Darkness

Jimeno said when he speaks, he reminds listeners at his speaking engagements - whether child or adult - that each person is only given 365 days per year of their lives.

He tells kids to “do the math” and points out that if a person lives to 90 years, that’s only about 32,850 days.

“That’s not a lot of time and you deserve happiness,” he says.

The message of “faith, hope and love” is what he said he delivers in his books and times he speaks in front of groups.

When people downplay and compare their own experiences to his, he reminds them, “Everyone has a World Trade Center.”

He names job losses, COVID and other difficulties in life, as obstacles people can triumph over.

Though a faith-filled man raised Catholic, Jimeno said “I don’t preach religion” and tells people to believe in the God if that’s part of their faith; and if they don’t have that higher power they turn to, to believe in themselves.

“God left me on earth for a reason,” he said. “Life throws nasty stuff at us and you’re not alone.”

RELATED: 9/11 Hero In NJ: From American Dream To 13-Hour Nightmare.

Questions or comments about this story? Have a news tip? Contact me at jennifer.miller@patch.com.