From Police Heroes, a book by author Chuck Whitlock:

On September 11, Inspector Anthony Infante, Jr. was in Jersey City attending a Port Authority meeting. He was one of the many Port Authority officers to rush to Manhattan to aid in the evacuation of the buildings.

As reported by the New York Daily News, an e-mail from a survivor to his brother, Andy, said that Inspector Infante was seen in the North Tower going up the stairs. He was calming people down and telling them there was a clear exit to the street. “You could all imagine what a comfort it was to see Anthony in the stairwell and to hear his comforting words,” the e-mail said.

Inspector Infante always knew he would be a policeman. He worked for the Newark Police Department, then joined the Port Authority. He worked there for twenty years, eventually becoming a commanding officer for JFK Airport.

He is survived by his wife, Joyce, and their children, Marie and John Joseph. Infante was active in the community, coaching his children’s softball and basketball teams, volunteering at a soup kitchen, and teaching at St. Patrick’s Church in Chatham, New Jersey. After attending night classes, he earned a bachelor’s degree from St. Peter’s College in Jersey City and an M.A.E. from Seton Hall University in South Orange, New Jersey.

Portraits of Grief, The New York Times

An Inspector in Shape

Anthony Infante, an inspector for the Port Authority police, had gotten in shape for the New York City Marathon after laying off the race for a few years. His regained slimness came in handy as he ran up the stairwell of 1 World Trade Center, aiding victims. He was seen giving his coat to one man to protect him from burning materials.

Mr. Infante, 47, became a cadet with the Newark Police Department at 18. After staff cuts, he joined the Port Authority police. As he progressed through its ranks, he attended college and then graduate school at night.

His last post was as the highest-ranking policeman at LaGuardia and Kennedy Airports, when Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani was campaigning for the city Police Department to take over the job, Mr. Infante marshaled evidence to show his force was doing well.

“There is no issue with the police departments,” he said. “It’s with the mayor.”

The mayor went to his funeral, where Mr. Infante was remembered as a nice guy. Paul Brady, a friend, recalled how Mr. Infante nursed him through a divorce. He had tried to say thanks.

“What, are you nuts?” Inspector Infante answered. “We’re friends.”