9/11 Widow’s Grief Transformed Into School Empowering Hundreds of Students

Twenty-five years after the September 11 attacks claimed the life of Adam Lewis, his widow has channeled her grief into a lasting educational institution that is now serving nearly 200 students in Bridgeport, Connecticut.

Patty Lewis established the Adam J. Lewis Academy to honor her husband, who perished in the World Trade Center attacks in 2001. The school operates on the principle that Adam believed deeply in: that access to quality education can level the playing field for children regardless of their background.

Adam Lewis grew up in a one-bedroom Bronx apartment and attended local public schools. His athletic prowess earned him a scholarship to The Dalton School in Manhattan, an opportunity he later credited with shaping his life. He went on to attend Hamilton College, where he met Patty, and eventually worked at the financial firm Keefe, Bruyette & Woods (KBW), located in the Twin Towers.

After Adam’s death, Patty returned to the education sector a decade later, working in admissions at a private school in Westport. While interviewing families from neighboring areas, she noticed a stark disparity. Children from Bridgeport, a lower-income community with under-resourced public schools, often lacked the foundational skills required for success and were frequently turned away.

This observation sparked an idea for a high-quality early childhood program designed to support these students. Initially, her friend and former colleague Julie Mombello thought the plan was impractical. However, after listening to Patty’s six-hour explanation of how educational opportunities can alter a child’s trajectory, Mombello agreed to help.

The Adam J. Lewis Preschool was officially incorporated in 2011. Following a two-year search for a suitable facility and the recruitment of staff, the preschool opened its doors in Bridgeport in 2013 with just 12 students.

Support came quickly from KBW, Adam’s former employer. The firm sponsored the school’s playground, and Tom Michaud, Adam’s close friend and current CEO of KBW, has maintained his support for the institution. Encouraged by donor interest and growing enrollment, Patty expanded the school grade by grade. It reopened as the Adam J. Lewis Academy in 2018.

Today, the academy serves approximately 200 students ranging from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. Caroline Lewis, one of Adam and Patty’s four children, expressed pride in her mother’s achievements, noting that the school continues to write new chapters of her father’s story.

“The story of 9/11 is not done being written,” Michaud said. “And 25 years later, AJLA is writing new chapters with every student.”

As the new school year begins each September, Patty traditionally plays ’80s music to welcome students, keeping Adam’s memory alive through the lives he helps shape daily.