Libertyville teen dies of heart ailment
A Libertyville High School senior who died at home earlier this week had a heart condition often associated with athletes, officials said Wednesday.
Simon McCormack, 17, a swimmer and member of the school's cross country and water polo teams, suffered from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a condition in which the heart muscles thicken, Lake County Coroner Richard Keller said. Because of the thickening, the heart must work harder to pump blood.
McCormack was found dead Tuesday morning in his bedroom. An autopsy revealed the heart ailment, which Keller said had not been previously diagnosed.
There were no signs of foul play, Keller said.
McCormack also played bass in the school's symphony orchestra and was in the environmental club. He worked as a lifeguard at Lake Minear Beach in Libertyville.
Libertyville High student John Harder called McCormack his brother.
"It's entirely fitting that his heart was too big for this world," Harder said in an e-mail. "Knowing someone like Simon ... will change you and your life permanently and in an extremely positive way."
Another classmate, Alex Konigseder, fondly recalled McCormack's sarcastic sense of humor and his desire "to make every situation a fun one."
"He was one of those special people (who) touched everyone he knew in a different way," Konigseder said in an e-mail.
A crisis team was set to meet at the school Wednesday afternoon to determine how to help grieving students and staffers cope with McCormack's death.
"The loss of a student is always an unexpected tragedy - especially someone like Simon, who was very involved at LHS," Assistant Principal Eric Maroscher wrote in an e-mail.
"He will be greatly missed by our school community, and our deepest sympathies go to his family at this very difficult time."
McCormack's survivors include his parents, Joseph McCormack and Donna Kenski; two sisters, Ruth and Laura McCormack; a twin brother, Philip; and three grandparents.
Visitation is scheduled for 3 to 9 p.m. Friday at the Burnett-Dane Funeral Home, 120 W. Park Ave., Libertyville.
A funeral service will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home.
Pictures and stories may also be shared on McCormack's Facebook page. Memorials may be made to the Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Association, 4hcm.org.
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is considered the most common cause of sudden death in young athletes, according to the American Heart Association.
Some schools, including Libertyville High, and sport groups have tested teens for the condition.
The condition has felled several notable athletes, including basketball stars Reggie Lewis of the Boston Celtics and Hank Gathers, a college standout with Loyola Marymount University.
Both died in the 1990s.
• Daily Herald staff writer Samm Zombolo contributed to this report.