‘Bin Laden still had 10 more years than my brother’

Local reaction to the death of Osama bin Laden has been a mixed bag of jubilation, fear and relief, and nowhere is it more heartfelt — and confusing — than among the friends and family members of those who lost their lives on Sept. 11, 2001.

“I think we all pretty much had the same initial reaction,” said Lisa Burch of her family. “It was a combination of relief, sadness and anger. I feel proud and grateful for what the military did and what President Obama helped to accomplish, and people think we should feel some peace and justice — but it’s not over. Al Qaeda still has hatred toward the U.S., and there is a possibility of retaliation. This may make [bin Laden] more of a martyr in the eyes of his followers. I worry that they may want to act on his behalf.”

Burch’s brother, Andrew Stern, died in the attacks on the World Trade Center. He worked for Cantor Fitzgerald on the 104th floor of the north tower — the first to be hit by a plane that morning and the second to collapse.

Stern, a Lynbrook native and a resident of Bellmore, was 41 when he died. His wife, Kate, has raised their two children, Danny, 17, and Emma, 14. “Danny is a high school senior and is looking toward college,” Burch said. “Emma is going to start high school.” Stern is also survived by his mother, Barbara Stern, of Lynbrook, a brother, Michael Stern, of Ridge, N.Y.

“We have tried to do what we can to go on with our lives,” Burch said. “It’s something you can never forget. It’s just really tough when people come up to me and say, ‘You must feel really good’ — and I accept the comfort and solace, but it doesn’t bring my brother back. Bin Laden is dead, but he still got to live 10 more years than my brother.”

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