Evanston Fire Captain Dies After 17-Year Cancer Battle

EVANSTON, IL — Evanston Fire Department Captain Ron D. Shulga, 55, died Thursday after a 17-year battle with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Shulga's diagnosis was linked to a 2000 transformer fire containing PCBs at the Varsity Theater in downtown Evanston. His death has been ruled a job-related, non-traumatic line of duty death by the Illinois Fire Chiefs Association (IFCA) and Associated Fire Fighters of Illinois (AFFI), which has entitled him to full department honors, according to a statement from Division Chief Paul Polep.

Shulga, a 29-year veteran of the Evanston Fire Department, was instrumental in maintaining the Department's self-contained breathing apparatus and radio communications, keeping others safe and connected, the statement said.

"Captain Shulga was a beloved member of the department who always went above and beyond to make things a little better for the next guy," said Fire Chief Brian Scott. "He was always willing to help move the department forward. His presence will truly be missed by all."

Arrangements for Captain Shulga:

Wake: Thursday, May 18, 3 p.m. to 9 p.m., at Donnellan Funeral Home, 10045 Skokie Blvd., Skokie

Visitation Services: Friday, May 19, 9 a.m. to 10 a.m., at Donnellan Funeral Home

Church Procession: Friday, May 19, departing at 10:10 a.m. from Donnellan Funeral Home to St. John Brebeuf Catholic Church, 8307 N. Harlem Ave., in Niles.

The procession will travel east into Evanston on Central Street to Fire Station 5, 2830 Central St., before traveling south on Green Bay Road and Asbury Avenue and west on Emerson Street to Fire Station 1, 1332 Emerson St. The procession will then continue on to the church.

Funeral Mass: Friday, May 19, 11 a.m., St. John Brebeuf Catholic Church

Map of the planned route of Captain Shulga's funeral procession.

Donations:

In lieu of flowers the family wishes donations be made to Evanston Firefighters Local 742 Benevolent Fund. C/O Captain Shulga, P.O. Box 1275, Evanston IL. 60204, or to Ron's GoFundMe.

» via the Evanston Fire Department

Top photo: Captain Ron Shulga | Courtesy: Evanston Fire Department