Community Corner

Honoring Husband Through Foundations, Helping Soldiers

Christie Coombs remembers her husband, Jeff Coombs, a Dedham native and DHS alum.

As they hugged, word spread that Christie’s husband, Jeff Combs, died on American Airlines Flight 11 when terrorists steered it into the North Tower in New York.

Jeff, a class of 1977 graduate, and Christie, married in 1984.

“His family was his first priority. Always. He always made it known that he was a father first – even before a husband,” Christie said.

The kids have since grown up – ages 17, 21 and 23 – and Christie has turned initial anger and grief into non-profit work.

Christie has helped raise thousands through an annual 5K road race in Abington every Sept. 18 – Jeff’s birthday.

Christie also holds a holiday celebration in December for soldiers who served in Iraq and Afghanistan and their families. She helped form the Massachusetts Military Hero Fund, which benefits Gold Star families.

Her good works don’t go unnoticed – but she knows what her top job is.

“First and foremost, I’m always a mom,” she says. “They still rely on me for a lot of things, and frankly, I rely on them for a lot of things.”

Dedham Patch will publish a complete video honoring Jeff Coombs on Friday, Sept. 9.

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That fateful day changed the country and many people's lives — it altered reality for citizens, America's political system, the economy and in many ways shifted public policies for us a nation. How did it impact you?

Where were you on 9/11? How do you plan to explain it to your children if they are too young to remember it?

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If you want to join a national remembrance effort, check out ActionAmerica.com to tell the country how you're taking positive action in Dedham. To access Action America, click here.


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