December 3, 2008
His Overnight Shift Ran Late
Carpenter Joseph Mistrulli specializes in crafting curved walls and ceilings for wealthy clients, and on the morning of Sept. 11, he was plying his trade inside Windows on the World.
The 47-year-old Wantagh resident and father of three had been working on the project's overnight shift, which usually ran from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m.
But on Monday, Sept. 10, the restaurant stayed open later than usual, and Mistrulli - who worked for Island Acoustics in Hauppauge - wasn't able to start his shift until 4 a.m. The change meant he was working atop the World Trade Center when a hijacked plane struck the tower at 8:48 a.m.
Philomena Mistrulli has not heard from him since.
"I go down to the armory, hoping they have more information," she said. "But the information is all the same - it's all questions and no answers."
The Mistrullis, who have been married for 23 years, are from Brooklyn originally and moved to Wantagh 22 years ago, Philomena said. Their three children are Joseph, 22; MaryAnn, 21; and Angela, 17.
"My husband always put everybody else first," Philomena said. "First it was his family, then it was his job, then himself.
"He was the hub of everything," she added. "I miss him. I want him to come home. But as the days go on, the hope fades."
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Copyright © 2008, Newsday Inc.
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