Reminiscences of Barry Ensminger : oral history, 2004.

Biographical Note

Consultant, New York Community Trust.

Scope and Contents

Born in Burbank, California. Went to University of Pennsylvania Law School, studied health law, worked in Washington, D.C. Married, moved to New York in 1975 with first wife, Sylvia Law, a law professor at NYU. Various professional appointments: Food Law Project, Carol Bellamy's City Council, March of Dimes, David Dinkins Administration, Planned Parenthood, fellowships at various universities. On 9/11: at office in SoHo, got a phone call from friend, went to rooftop and watched towers collapse; knew after second plane hit that it was a terrorist attack. Was in a state of shock, felt numb. Son (Ben Ensminger Law) who worked at Marsh & McLennan midtown offices lost many co-workers at WTC. Joyce Bove and Len McNally (health program officers at New York Community Trust) recruited him to work at September 11th Fund. Discusses Red Cross scandal. Discusses classification of primary and secondary victims, as well as health care benefits/entitlements and COBRA [Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act.] Discusses the different aid available to victims, how health insurance was dealt with and paid by, and discusses extensively the problems of victims health insurance and the criteria for distributing insurance. Describes how victims got group insurance plans and what that entailed. Discusses what will happen when benefits paid for by September 11th Fund run out. Hypothesizes what would happen in case of another terrorist attack.

Subjects

• American Red Cross.
• Consultants--Interviews.
• Ensminger, Barry, 1948---Interviews.
• Farber, Myron, interviewer.--http://id.loc.gov/vocabulary/relators/ivr
• Interviews.
• New York Community Trust--Officials and employees--Interviews.
• Oral histories (literary works)
• September 11 Terrorist Attacks, 2001--Economic aspects.
• September 11 Terrorist Attacks, 2001--Personal narratives.
• September 11 Terrorist Attacks, 2001.
• September 11th Fund.
• Terrorism insurance--United States.

Access Conditions

Copyright by The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York, 2006. Permission required to cite, quote, and reproduce. Contact repository for information.