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A Brother's Paternal Streak

If you talk to Pamela Bittner about her big brother, Jeffrey, you would probably assume that he was born at least a few years before her, the way she describes him as protective, nurturing, wise. She uses those terms as a little sister would: "He was quite a protective big brother, always concerned about making sure I was happy and safe."

The truth of the matter is, however, that Jeffrey Bittner, 27, was born all of a whopping one minute before Pamela, his twin sister. But you would never know it. "That was the big running joke," she said. "He would always say, 'I'm a minute older!' You couldn't argue about it."

Mr. Bittner, who was a research analyst for Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, was a brotherly gentleman not only with his sister, but with everyone, she said. In the last few weeks before the attack, he had joined a mentoring program that made him a big brother to New York City schoolchildren.

Profile published in THE NEW YORK TIMES on September 30, 2001.