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They'll Always Have France

Elizabeth and Stephen Alderman will always treasure the priceless September week they spent with their sons Peter and Jeffrey, and their daughter, Jane, in a rented house in Roussillon, France. But Peter Craig Alderman had to fly back on Saturday, Sept. 8, in time to prepare for a conference in Windows on the World, which he attended for Bloomberg L.P., where he worked in financial services.

When his parents learned that Peter Alderman, 25, was missing after the terrorist attack, they tried to return; no flights were available. So Michael R. Bloomberg sent his personal jet to fly them back. The Aldermans know that their son was trapped on the 106th floor; Jane got an email message from him at 9:35 a.m. He said that there was a lot of smoke, and that people were afraid. "We knew there was no hope for him," said Mrs. Alderman.

And so, on Wednesday, in their home in Armonk, N.Y., they threw a party: Champagne, kegs of beer and tons of food, "a celebration of his life, by his friends," said Mr. Alderman. Over 100 came from as far away as Portland, Ore.; Mr. Bloomberg was there as well. "We ate, drank and laughed," Mr. Alderman said, "and we told stories."

Profile published in THE NEW YORK TIMES on September 26, 2001.