‘He would choose to do it again’: Vigil held for Buffalo Grove High School security guard who died shielding students from crash

Friends, family and students gathered at Buffalo Grove High School Saturday to pay tribute to the life and sacrifice of high school security guard Orlando Rivas.

Rivas, who died Friday, was fatally injured during dismissal Tuesday afternoon while trying to shield students he was helping cross the street during a crash. A vehicle trying to exit the parking lot onto Dundee Road struck a pole. That pole hit Rivas, who died after he was taken to Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge.

At the vigil, held at the school athletic field at 7 p.m., speakers shared details of Rivas’ life — how he attended a seminary intending to become a priest, his prior work as a probation officer and how he shared his faith by texting Bible verses.

Buffalo Grove High School Principal Jeff Wardle read messages written by the students.

“One student wrote, ‘He always had a smile on his face and would cheer up anyone and everyone,’” he said.

Rivas told students about his vinyl record collection and how he used to coach lacrosse.

“He used his curiosity just to enter the students lives and to make them feel special,” Wardle said.

Buffalo Grove High School student Ethan Martinez said he would speak to Rivas at lunch. Rivas would tell him he would go to 6 a.m. prayer at nearby St. Mary Parish every day.

Rivas’ eldest daughter, Sabrina Rivas, spoke about his love for the community.

“He always went above and beyond for family, friends, strangers,” she said, recalling how her father recently told her how he had helped someone on the side of the road and filled up that person’s tank.

Arlington Heights resident and Buffalo Grove High School parent Matt Wright, said, “He loved this school. He loved these kids. He loved my kids. It seems like Orlando left a positive footprint everywhere he went,” he said.

Toward the end of the vigil, attendees held lights and sang “Amazing Grace.”

Friends attending included Buffalo Grove resident Jamie Quinn, who said of his sacrifice, “He would choose to do it again.”