Visitation Set for Retired Firefighter Found Outside Palatine American Legion Hall

Photo credit: Friedrichs Funeral Home/John Jarosz obituary

Jarosz died on Jan. 2 and his visitation has been set for 3 to 9 p.m. on Saturday at Friedrichs Funeral Home, 320 W. Central Road, according to his obituary. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Illinois Fire Safety Alliance,PO Box 911, Mt. Prospect, IL 60056 or at www.ifsa.org.

Jarosz was found lying down near the steps of the Palatine American Legion Hall Post #690 in Palatine on Dec. 30, according to the Arlington Cardinal. A woman driving by the legion hall at Palatine Road and Greeley Street spotted him, stopped to check on him and found him unresponsive and not breathing.

Emergency personnel responded Jarosz was taken to the hospital where he later died, according to the article.

John Boy was a 1976 Prospect High School graduate where he was in the Fire Cadet Program. He then began with the Arlington Heights Fire Department 1977 and retired in 2010 after 32 years of service, according to his obituary. He also worked as a fire inspector for the Northbrook Fire Department for 15 years.

Early in his career at the Arlington Heights Fire Department, Jarosz donated his personal vehicle, a large four-wheel drive Chevy Blazer, to the fire department and it was used as an EMS/Rescue Squad during bad snowstorms, according to the Arlington Cardinal.

John Boy became a member of the Sons of the American Legion Post 208 in Arlington Heights in 1994 where he held many offices. In 2015, he became the President of the State of Illinois Sons of the American Legion. He also volunteered for many charitable organizations, according to his obituary.

Read more on the Arlington Cardinal and in Jarosz’s obituary.