Andover, Massachusetts
Thumbed Her Nose at Age
At 81, Mildred Naiman kept the pedal to the metal. "She had a little bit of a lead foot," said her daughter-in-law Carol Naiman. "She had been stopped for speeding and was totally insulted the officer would give an old woman a ticket."
Despite the number of birthdays that had passed, she lived her life at full tilt. She called her apartment in an Andover, Mass., community for the elderly her bachelorette pad, and she kept her friends there busy, organizing shopping excursions, dinners out and weekend trips. She headed to California twice a year to visit her sons, usually taking American Airlines Flight 11, as she did on Sept. 11. "You'd sort of have to see her between her little excursions," Carol Naiman said.
All this despite two knee replacements, cataracts and a variety of other health problems. "If something was wrong with her," said her son Russ Naiman, "she'd go to the doctor and say, "Fix me up; I've got a lot of traveling to do.' "
Profile published in THE NEW YORK TIMES on January 6, 2002.
Mildred Naiman, 81, of Andover, Mass., felt bad about flying American Airlines Flight 11 to California on Tuesday to see two of her sons and their families. She didn't want to miss her son Richard's 58th birthday that same day.
But Richard told her: "Mom, it's OK. You can call me from California," recalled Hope Naiman, 28, Mildred Naiman's granddaughter.
Despite knee replacement surgeries that forced her to be pushed through Boston's Logan Airport in a wheelchair, the feisty grandmother refused to stop her regular trips to see her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
During a family gathering on Sunday, a relative had asked Naiman if she was nervous about flying. "No, I've gone everywhere already--to Germany, the Bahamas," her granddaughter recalled her saying. "I'm not afraid to fly."
I visited the World Trade Center memorial in 2022 and was revisiting some photos. Saw I photographed her name memorial there on the wall and had to see who it was. In case her sons are still with us, I’d like to offer to offer some love. Your mother is still with us and will never be forgotten. Rest in peace Mildred.
Tabitha Hatcher
August 19, 2025 | Dothan, AL | Friend
Mildred, On this anniversary I read about your love for life, family and friends. You have left a tremendous impact on the lives of every person you crossed paths with. Your memory is alive and well; we will never forget.
Lindsay Rattler
September 11, 2024 | Other
Hi Mildred know that we mean it when we say we will never forget. I may not know you, but today I choose to honor you!
Patsy Gloria
September 08, 2023 | Tempe, AZ
She was my great aunt, 9 years before I was born in 2010, she died on 9/11. I'm 12 years old now.
Colton Snyder
September 12, 2022 | Family
15 years later the pain of losing you is still so real. I miss you more than ever and love you even more Grandma!
Hope Naiman-Kea
September 11, 2016 | Salem, NH
My husband and I have season tickets to Music Circus in Sacramento. His seat has a memorial tribute on the back to Mrs. Naiman; she sounds like a grand dame, sorry we never met her.
Jacqui Koukol
June 19, 2016
I choose to visit this site each day and pray for the families and friends of one of the victims. Today I was blessed to come across Mildred's entry. What an inspirational woman! I HOPE to honor her legacy by living the rest of my life with as much drive and enthusiasm as she did. I already have the lead foot! Richard, Russ, Hope, and all of the rest of you, I pray for you to be blessed in a special way today. With much love from Texas,
Del Newberry
January 20, 2016 | Garland, TX
September 11, 2015 Millie I miss you and love you. I miss the good times that you and Otto and Don and I had on our many trips to New York and of course, Mr. Richards restaurant and our many sailing trips on Zuider Zee 3 to the Bahamas and the Virgin Islands. Memories live forever. Ruthie Peglow Salem N H
September 11, 2015
In Memory
With Honor & Respect.
S J. Friscia III
May 21, 2015 | Staten Island, NY