Suburban entertainer dies in accident at Lake Zurich paving company
A singer known for performing classics from the likes of Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin at suburban venues died while operating equipment on his day job at a Lake Zurich business.
Jack Eiler, 58, who lived in an unincorporated area near Ingleside, was remembered as a well-liked employee at Chicagoland Paving Contractors Inc. who performed at a company Christmas party and even a bit while he worked.
“Every once in a while, not often, he'd break into a song,” Chicagoland Paving controller Dan Kelly said.
Kelly said Eiler, a mechanic, was on an asphalt paver when the accident occurred Wednesday. He said it's unknown whether Eiler fell from the paver or was trying to work on it at the business in an industrial park at 225 Telser Road.
Lake County Coroner Howard Cooper said an autopsy was performed Thursday on Eiler. He said the preliminary autopsy findings are consistent with multiple traumatic injuries due to the accident.
Cooper added that a final coroner's report will not be issued until the accident investigation is completed and toxicology results are received.
Lake Zurich police said they received an emergency call from Chicagoland Paving at 1:43 p.m. Wednesday and that Eiler died at the scene. Kelly said Eiler's colleagues remained “heartbroken” over his death.
Eiler was known for performing songs made famous by Martin, Sinatra, Elvis Presley and more at Long Grove's annual Apple Fest and, most recently, at the Village Tavern there in February. He also performed at Round Lake Park's Park Fest, Docks Bar and Grill in Wauconda, Round Lake's Home Town Fest and The Garlands senior living complex in Barrington.
His mother, who died in 2007, was known as the longtime owner, operator and instructor at the Dolores Eiler Schools of Dance that started in Arlington Heights. In the 1960s and 1970s, Eiler's mother operated as many as six studios across the North and Northwest suburbs. Eiler was married to wife Cathy for nine years. He had three sons, Andrew and Jason Eiler and David Hubert, and two daughters, Danielle Eiler and Courtney (Ben) DeAngelis, as well as two grandchildren, Leigha and Peyton DeAngelis.
Scott Allen, a spokesman for the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration, said Thursday the agency has opened an investigation into what happened at Chicagoland Paving. He said OSHA will not have any details to release until the probe is completed.
OSHA investigators started their work late Wednesday, Allen said. OSHA has up to six months to complete the investigation, but it may not take that long, he said.
“If OSHA finds violations of safety and/or health regulations contributed to the fatality, (the agency) can issue citations and propose penalties to the company,” Allen said.