Schaumburg mourns firefighter killed in motorcycle crash

Both the loved ones and professional family of David Grandt, a 30-year veteran of the Schaumburg Fire Department, are mourning his loss in a motorcycle crash that also seriously injured his wife.

Visitation for Grandt is from 1 to 9 p.m. today at Ahlgrim & Sons Funeral and Cremation Services in Schaumburg, with a funeral Mass at 11 a.m. Thursday at Church of the Holy Spirit in Schaumburg.

Grandt, of Hoffman Estates, was killed Aug. 2 about 40 miles east of Indianapolis, said Schaumburg Fire Marshal Terry Simale, a longtime friend. Grandt was 55.

Grandt and his wife, Christine, were returning home from a motorcycle trip that had taken them to Hallifax, Nova Scotia. Simale himself was on the trip but headed home before the Grandts.

"Certainly he was a good friend and a riding colleague," Simale said.

The crash occurred when two vehicles right in front of them collided. The Grandts couldn't stop in time to avoid crashing into the wreckage.

"He passed away quickly at the scene," Simale said.

Grandt's wife, a school nurse for Schaumburg Elementary District 54, was taken to an area hospital for treatment. She was transferred to the rehabilitation center at Alexian Brothers Medical Center in Elk Grove Village Friday and is expected to make a full recovery, Simale said.

Grandt, who's also survived by his college-age sons Scott and Todd, was first a paid-on-call member of the Schaumburg Fire Department before being sworn in as a full-timer July 11, 1977.

He began paramedic training in the fall of 1977, becoming a paramedic several years before it was a requirement of all firefighters.

Though he reached the rank of lieutenant, Grandt was transitioned into a civilian role on May 1 that allowed him to continue doing the same work for the department as he neared his 30th anniversary.

That work included serving as the department's emergency medical services coordinator and as a team leader for fire investigations.

One of those who worked with Grandt for years was Connie Mattera, the EMS administrative director at Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Heights.

She said Grandt was the perfect choice to be the department's EMS coordinator and liaison with the hospital.

"His ability to work with people was legendary," Mattera said. "My phone has been ringing off the hook. Everyone has a Dave story. Our minds may have begun to adjust to the fact that he's no longer here, but our hearts have not. He's been a cornerstone of that department."

Mattera said Grandt was a man who truly had his priorities straight, putting his family above all else.

But in second place was the fire department, for which his passion was evident.

"He loved the fire service," Mattera said.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to the Illinois Fire Safety Alliance, P.O. Box 911, Mount Prospect, IL 60056.

For more information, call (847) 882-5580.