Notable deaths in DuPage County in 2015
Michael Galasso, 78
The longtime DuPage County judge pushed for court-appointed special advocates for abused and neglected children more than 20 years ago and spent 23 years representing family law cases. He died in January, just weeks after learning he had cancer.
Ally Bradford and Seth Egger, both 16
The Aurora Central Catholic High School students were killed March 10 when the SUV in which they were riding en route to a basketball game struck a turning semitrailer truck on a fog-covered road in Rochelle. Ally, of Aurora, was remembered for her infectious smile and fierce competitiveness in sports. Seth was remembered as a teen who loved to talk and made friends wherever he went.
Verlyn Roskam, 85
The father of U.S. Rep. Peter Roskam, the Wheaton man was known for his deep faith and generosity. His death in March was “a great loss,” Peter Roskam said, “but wow did he live a life you can be proud of. He was just a huge influence all the way around.” He worked full-time until he was 84 as an international salesman for the sorbent minerals company Oil-Drl Corp. of America.
Jack McCambridge, 93
The longtime Naperville resident was remembered by friends and family for his positive outlook, community service and for being a true gentleman and a kind friend. McCambridge served as a member of the Naperville liquor commission until his death. He previously served as chairman of the board of fire and police commissioners and library board president and was involved with St. Raphael and Ss. Peter and Paul Catholic churches, Jaycees and Rotary. He recently had moved to Lisle and was a member of the Brookdale Senior Living resident board.
Michael Yates, 52
The former DuPage County sheriff's deputy from Carol Stream retired from law enforcement in June 2014 and took a job in November of that year as a Southwest Airlines ramp agent, handling luggage at Chicago's Midway Airport. He died in May of multiple injuries suffered in a freak accident when two luggage vehicles collided.
Sara A. Medina, 23
The Marine from Aurora was killed May 12 along with five other members of the military in a helicopter crash east of Kathmandu while conducting earthquake relief operations in Nepal. “She died how she lived, helping people and being a Marine,” said her brother, Luis Medina.
Donald Wehrli, 87
The Naperville resident was a man with strong opinions and stronger family values, a desire to improve his community and a firsthand knowledge of much of the city's history. A former city council member and founder of Naperville Trolley, Wehrli remained active in the city he loved until he died in mid-May after a battle with prostate cancer. “In all things he was certainly family first,” said his youngest son, Grant Wehrli, now a state representative. “He loved God, he loved his country and I would put in front of those two, family.”
Brian Schnurstein, 34
A gifted athlete and beloved member of the Wheaton community spent the last five years of his life educating the public about the disease - ALS - that struck him at age 29. A multisport athlete at Wheaton Warrenville South High School, he died in May.
Matt Skowronski, 16
His life was a happy one, filled with volleyball, basketball, sketching and drawing, a group of friends he called “the squad” and an ever-present smile. The Naperville Central athlete kept his life packed with sports, family and friends until the end, when he died unexpectedly in June of apparent complications from a heart defect.
Michael Sandman, 61
The Bloomingdale pilot was known as a stickler for safety when his 1982 Cessna crashed in July in the Hawk Hollow Forest Preserve near Bartlett. In his final communications with air traffic controllers, Sandman talked about having problems with his rudder.
Sandra Bland, 28
The Naperville woman was preparing for a new job when a Texas state trooper stopped her on July 10 for making an improper lane change. An altercation followed and Bland was taken to Waller County jail, about 60 miles from Houston. She was found three days later hanging from a plastic bag in her cell. Her family questioned the official version of her death. Her death became a national story as tensions continued between many police departments and the minority community.
Chase Froese, 20
The Carol Stream woman was curious, spiritual and adventurous. The rising junior at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan, already had traveled much of the world with her family and was always looking to expand her horizons. In early August, on her way back to school, she and two friends stopped for a swim in Lake Michigan. Caught by a riptide, Chase drowned.
Steven Nincic, 35
The Wood Dale man was attending Wood Dale's Prairie Fest with his wife and two children in early August when a storm blew into the area. The family took cover under the music tent, which collapsed in a huge gust of wind. One of the tent poles struck and killed Nincic.
Richie Joe Matchett, 55
The former Naperville police officer was an avid Chicago Blackhawks fan and a 28-year veteran of the force when he died of cancer in August. He joined the Naperville department in 1985 and served as a patrol officer, field training officer, police canine officer, traffic officer and a member of the honor guard.
Jeannine Fournier, 53
The top librarian at Glenbard East High School “had a card catalog in her head,” Principal Shahe Bagdasarian said. She also was easy to talk to, had a subtle sense of humor and genuinely cared about students, the principal said. She died in August, just before the start of school.
Wes Craven, 76
The Wheaton College graduate made a name for himself by making some classic horror films, including “Last House on the Left,” “The Hills Have Eyes” and the movies that launched the “Nightmare on Elm Street” and “Scream” franchises. “A story about things that frighten us lessens the effect that those things have on us,” he once said.
Pat Pradel, 75
She was Naperville's first lady for 20 years, but she never sought credit and shied away from the spotlight while her husband, longtime Mayor George Pradel, took center stage. But those who knew her said she was supportive of friends, family and especially her husband. “She just made the family tick so he could be in so many different places,” said Katherine Seguino, who grew up near the Pradel family. “People knew her but didn't really understand that without her love and support on the family side, so many things would not have happened for Naperville.”
Jerry Greer, 79
Wood Dale's longest serving mayor died after he and his wife Yvonne were in a car crash near their home in Cass City, Michigan. Greer served as Wood Dale's mayor for 20 years before ending his run in 1995. “The guy always had a smile on his face,” Wood Dale Mayor Nunzio Pulice said.
Bishop Joseph Imesch, 84
The former bishop who led the Joliet Diocese through a period of major growth, but came under fire for his handling of clergy sex abuse cases, died in December. He had retired in June 2006 after serving as the diocese's third bishop for roughly 27 years.