By John Burton
Virginia Bauer has met many of the famous and traveled in rarified circles in her years in business and government and as an advocate for 9/11 victims. But last week’s opportunity to meet and speak with Pope Francis in New York City was a milestone that had a profound impact on her.
“It is something I’ll cherish for the rest of my life,” she said about that meeting.
Bauer, a Red Bank resident, is director and board member for the 9/11 Memorial and Museum, whose first husband, W. David Bauer, was killed in the 2001 World Trade Center attacks. Following the attacks, Bauer became a passionate activist and advocate for victims and their families and worked closely with congressional members and the White House to formulate the 9/11 victims legislation.
Bauer said her involvement with the museum and being a victim’s widow put her and her 28-year-old son, Stephen, in a position to not only attend the interfaith service Pope Francis conducted with other clergy at the museum last week, but afforded the opportunity to meet and speak with the pontiff.
Bauer, a practicing Catholic, said she “felt very honored and privileged to have this chance.”
In their brief, few moments Bauer told the pontiff of her personal story and how “I thought he had brought so much good for the country and really the world.”
Francis responded by thanking Bauer for her kind words, saying he would pray for her and her family and proceeded to bless Bauer and her son.
“It was really pretty incredible,” she said. She found him to be “A calming voice,” soft spoken, kind and expressing a civility that is unfortunately all too lacking in public discourse these days, she said. “I think he is genuinely interested in everyday people and really cares about not just the church he serves but respects all religion.”
For Bauer, Francis is “talking about all the right things.” And while some may differ with his positions on some issues, “Nobody can argue with his kindness.”
Bauer is currently chief executive officer of GTBM Inc., an East Rutherford-headquartered software security technology firm. Previously she had served as the state lottery director, secretary for the state Commerce, Economic Growth and Tourism Commission and as a commissioner for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. From 2005 to 2008 she was also the vice chair of the Fort Monmouth Economic Redevelopment Authority, working on redeveloping the former military installation.
