71-year-old campaign worker dies after walking Mundelein parade
A campaign volunteer for congressional candidate Steve Greenberg died Sunday after collapsing during Mundelein's Community Days parade.
Nancy Sassano, 71, of Grayslake was walking with Greenberg, a Republican challenging Democrat Melissa Bean in the 8th Congressional District, and other campaigners about 3:30 p.m. when she unexpectedly fell to the ground, witnesses said. She had shown no evidence of illness before she collapsed, said Greenberg campaign manager Collin Corbett, who was part of the group.
Spectators performed CPR on Sassano before paramedics arrived. She was taken by ambulance to Condell Medical Center in Libertyville but could not be revived.
Sassano was pronounced dead at 4:06 p.m. Sunday. An autopsy revealed she likely suffered a heart attack, Lake County Coroner Richard Keller said.
It's the first time village officials can recall anyone dying during the annual parade.
"It's absolutely tragic," Trustee Ray Semple said Monday. "It's terrible."
The roughly milelong parade down Hawley Street had begun at 2 p.m. at Prospect Avenue, near village hall.
Sassano collapsed at California Avenue, near Sandburg Middle School, as the Greenberg contingent moved through one of the largest groups of spectators, Semple recalled.
The site was just a few blocks from Mundelein High School, the traditional ending place for the parade.
Sassano had been waving to spectators and throwing candy to the crowd before she collapsed, Corbett said.
Floats, vehicles and marchers had to move to the side to clear a path for an ambulance that had been at the back of the parade, Semple said.
The rescue efforts stalled the parade for about 20 minutes, Semple said. It eventually continued.
The parade was one of the last events of the annual Community Days festival, which began July 1 and concluded Sunday night. The death did not affect the other events on the schedule Sunday, officials said.
Sassano had been volunteering for the Greenberg campaign since late last year, Corbett said. She did a lot of door-to-door campaigning and was energetic about the job, he said.
"She would outwork the teenagers in our office," Corbett said. "She was a great volunteer."
The Mundelein parade was the seventh Greenberg's team marched in this past weekend, but the only one on Sunday. It was the only parade Sassano participated in.
"Nancy was a passionate and caring woman," Greenberg said in a prepared statement. "Kristine and I were blessed to have known her."
A Bean spokeswoman said the congresswoman extended her condolences to Sassano's friends and family as well as to Greenberg, his campaign staff and the other volunteers.
Visitation for Sassano is set for 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Kelley and Spalding Funeral Home, 1787 Deerfield Road, Highland Park.
A memorial Mass is scheduled for 10 a.m. Thursday at Immaculate Conception Church, 770 Deerfield Road, Highland Park.
Interment will be private.
Sassano's survivors include her husband, Vincent; four children; and 10 grandchildren.
Donations may be made in her name to: the Lake County Haven, P.O. Box 127, Libertyville, IL 60048; or the Thomas More Law Center, 24 Frank Lloyd Wright Drive, P.O. Box 364, Ann Arbor, MI 48106-9900.