1952 - 2024

On the morning of September 11, 2001, American Airlines Flight 11 and United Airlines Flight 175 were commandeered by terrorists and crashed into the north and south towers of the World Trade Center in New York City. Later that morning, both towers and surrounding buildings collapsed, sending a large cloud of toxic dust and smoldering debris through lower Manhattan.

Special Agent Donald Kleber was deployed to New York City and worked at Ground Zero as part of the evidence recovery operations. He worked from September 26, 2001, to November 27, 2001, sifting and sorting through World Trade Center debris in an effort to locate human remains, personal items for identification or victims, and recovery of evidence. As part of his official duties at Ground Zero, he was exposed to all carcinogens, toxins, hazardous materials, etc., present at the recovery site.

On May 20, 2021, Kleber was diagnosed with choroidal melanoma in the left eye. He underwent surgery and received various treatments. The disease metastasized to his liver, and he succumbed to his illness on January 15, 2024. 

Kleber was born on September 20, 1952, in Hoboken, New Jersey. He entered on duty with the FBI on November 20, 1977.