Funeral held for fallen Chicago firefighter Capt. David Meyer; "a leader, a friend, a protector."
Chicago Fire Department Capt. David Meyer on Tuesday was remembered as a dedicated and loving husband and father, a relentless prankster, a gifted carpenter, and "truly a role model in every aspect of his life."
Meyer, 54, was killed while responding to a fire last week in the Austin neighborhood on the West Side. A 29-year veteran of the Chicago Fire Department; he is survived by his parents, wife, four children, and grandson.
His visitation was held Monday in Chicago, where hundreds of firefighters, paramedics, and police paid their respects.
At his funeral at St. John Brebeuf Parish in north suburban Niles, Fire Commissioner Annette Nance-Holt described Meyer as a devoted husband and father and "a leader, a friend, a protector."
"For over 28 years, Captain Meyer dedicated his life to the service of others. Every call he answered, ever fire he fought, and every life he saved were accomplished with courage that was quite yet unwavering. It was quiet, and with a heart that recognized humanity behind every emergency," she said. "Captain Meyer's spirit will live on in every firefighter and paramedic who runs toward danger, and every life saved, and in every moment where courage overcomes fear. He taught us the true meaning of bravery, and for that we will be forever grateful."
Those who came to remember Meyer today summarized his life by saying every call he answered, if that meant showing up to his daughter's skating competition after a long shift, or diving into a burning building to help someone in need, he was there.
"I'm going to miss him very much. There's no one like my dad. I love you dad. I'll miss you. We're all going to miss you, because nobody can be you," said Meyer's son, Michael.
After the funeral mass, Michael pressed his forehead to his dad's helmet in a goodbye salute as his mother — Meyer's high school sweetheart and wife of 32 years – consoled him.
Members of Engine 96 and Truck 29, where he was assigned when he died, said Meyer "filled the firehouse with an overwhelming amount of joy and fun day in and day out."
"Dave embodied everything a Chicago firefighter is and should be; the bravest of us all, a true leader in every sense of the word, and always the first one to jump at a chance to make a difference. His love and passion for this job was evident, but one thing was held higher for him. That was his family," they said. "He talked and shared stories about his wife and four children and grandchild every single day at the firehouse. The love he had for them was heard in every single word he shared. He was truly a role model in every aspect of his life."
His fellow firefighters said they recently learned of a saying Dave shared with his family – "don't be an asshole today" – which he put up on a sign in the firehouse.
"It was so simple, but so true to how he lived his life. It was classic Dave; blunt, honest, and exactly what you needed to hear. He kept us grounded without ever taking life too seriously," they said. "Rest easy, Dave. We will do our best to take it from here, and try not to be assholes today. We love you brother."
Meyer's friend, Rob, said he was the kind of guy you felt like you'd known forever even if you'd just met him five minutes ago.
Rob said he met Meyer at Ground Zero in New York after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and "Every year, without fail, Dave would call me on September 11th.
"It wasn't about remembering the past, it was about Dave just being Dave; reaching out and checking in, making sure you were there when you needed him," he said.
Members of Engine 106 and Truck 13, where Meyer served for three years before he was recently transferred to Engine 96 and Truck 29, said he was "a fantastic officer."
They also recalled his constant jokes and pranks to help lighten the mood at the firehouse – from wrapping a fellow firefighter's car in Saran wrap in the middle of the night, to putting a tree in his chimney after having to dig it up to build a second-floor addition on his house.
"Ask anyone on our shift; no one was safe from Dave's hijinks. What's worse, you could never truly get him back. He had eyes in the back of his head. Dave was downright diabolical when it came to pranks, but they were never mean-spirited. His jokes were always perfectly timed, and he kept things light," his fellow firefighters said.
Friends repeatedly spoke of finding themselves on the other end of Meyer's shenanigans.
"I don't know how many of you have ever had your car Saran-wrapped," Battalion Chief Scott Shawaluk said. "Here I am at 5:30 in the morning, trying with a pair of scissors, trying to cut my car out, finally got it undone, I get in the car and I start driving away, cellphone rings, Dave Meyer. This is 5:30 in the morning. 'Hey, what's up?' He is laughing so hysterically, he can barely talk. 'Hey, have any problems getting into your car this morning?'"
Retired firefighter Kevin Casey, who worked alongside him for about 10 years on the West Side, said he was also a gifted carpenter who could fix anything
"He was probably the hardest working person I'd ever met, but I don't really know if he ever worked a day in his life," he said. "As far as the Fire Department was concerned, he was just going to a picnic with 14 of his best friends for the weekend. You know, I mean, it wasn't really like a job."
As his four children stood to give their eulogies, an entire department made a promise not to fill the hole Meyer leaves behind, "but maybe we can make it a little softer."
"He has a Fire Department family who's never ever going to forget him," Shawaluk said. "We're never going to let them forget. We're never going to let them forget you either."
Meyer's friends and family laid him to rest with a private burial after the funeral mass.
Suspect charged with arson, murder in Meyer's death
Meantime, a man has been charged with murder in Meyers' death and was ordered held in Cook County Jail while he awaits trial.
Charles K. Green, 44, is accused of starting the fire by igniting the contents of a trash bin. Police and prosecutors have said he was seen on surveillance video in the alley before the fire with a glowing object in his hand that appeared to be an open flame.
Police said Green himself, his girlfriend, and another witness have identified him as the person on video.
After the fire was extinguished, the garage collapsed, and a beam struck Meyer, critically injuring him. He was rushed to Stroger Hospital, where he died.
