Gurnee firemedic 'served his community'

Gurnee firefighters said a final goodbye to one of their own Monday after a career member of the Gurnee Fire Department lost his battle with brain cancer last week.

Firemedic Russ Constantino, 46, died Nov. 9 and was buried Monday after a funeral at St. Pauls the Apostle in Gurnee.

Constantino was a paid-on-call firemedic, an active member of Lake McHenry County SRT Dive/Rescue Team and Lake County Honor Guard. Constantino held the title of Quartermaster, which included purchase of all duty and protective clothes for department members, and was also a member of the bike medic team. Constantino was honored by the Gurnee Park District in 2001 for helping a man who collapsed during a Gurnee Days 10K Race.

Constantino had just come off shift and was home with his son, Ryan, on a Saturday morning in June 2007. That's when a seizure grabbed him and knocked him unconscious. Having grown-up with a firefighter dad, Ryan calmly called 911.

It took nearly two days and multiple tests for doctors to discover a grape-sized tumor behind Constantino's left ear. He underwent surgery to remove the tumor and started radiation treatments.

That seemed to work until he had another seizure three months later. The tumor grew back. He endured a second surgery and started chemotherapy.

Again, it seemed they were on top of the disease until he seized again seven months later. This time, at Ryan's Little League Baseball game. Constantino underwent experimental cancer treatment, but was forced to retire from the fire department that June because the tumor affected his speech.

Last year, Gurnee firefighters organized a benefit to help ease the family's financial burden from medical bills. Benefit organizer and fellow Gurnee firefighter, Mike Swiontek, said last year, "As a dad, baseball coach and firefighter, Russ has served his community," Swiontek said. "It's time for us to come together and serve him."

Constantino lived in Gurnee with his wife Shenan, son Ryan and daughter Lauren.