Holland & Knight Family Loses a Fireman in World Trade Center Disaster
 
January 9, 2001
 

Glenn Winuk, a construction lawyer and partner in Holland & Knight’s New York office, was last seen during the evacuation of that office adjacent to the World Trade Center. He was overheard stating he was going to help and was seen accepting gloves and a mask from a rescue worker on the street. While everyone else ran from the scene, Glenn ran towards it. That was after the attacks on the WTC towers, but before the collapses. Glenn, a 20-year volunteer firefighter in Jericho, NY, was specially trained in emergency rescue. Neither his family, nor friends, nor his colleagues have heard from him since.

This wasn’t Glenn’s first selfless act in the face of danger. In 1993, after the initial bombing of the WTC, Glenn rushed to help those stunned by that tremendous explosion. Similar feats by Glenn were common. Those of us who knew Glenn are warmly reminded of Underdog. You know, "Have no fear, Underdog is here!" When a person was in trouble and Glenn could help, he was there.

In an age when lawyers are often belittled, Glenn stood us proud. Glenn exemplified the qualities all lawyers should emulate. He was a polished construction lawyer, one of our attorneys tasked, successfully it turns out, with expanding Holland & Knight’s construction practice in New York. More importantly, however, Glenn served others, whether as their attorney or as a selfless public servant, their fireman.

Glenn bridged gaps. He erased notions of the Wall Street attorney as someone different from those who served us in the street. Equally at ease with and respected by his scarred and wearied partners in fire fighting as with his most erudite and polished partners in the law. Equally accomplished at rescuing those trapped in the midst of physical peril as at advocating at the bar the rights of his clients.

He will forever be remembered and missed by his family, colleagues, clients, fellow firefighters and friends.