By Guy Tridgell
SouthtownStar
PEOTONE, Ill. — Ron Battiato’s two worlds came together Saturday.
Leading the South Chicago Heights firefighter and paramedic’s funeral procession was a pack of Harley-Davidsons, riders in bandannas and sunglasses roaring their hogs in unison.
Behind them were trucks from dozens of area fire departments, their lights flashing silently in the sunny autumn afternoon.
“Ron would have really loved this,” said Mark Harries, a longtime friend and colleague. “It combined everything he really believed in.”
Battiato, 41, of Peotone, was on a medical helicopter that crashed Wednesday near Aurora. All four in the helicopter died, including a 1-year-old girl who was being taken to Children’s Memorial Hospital in Chicago.
About 1,000 firefighters and paramedics from across the Chicago area paid their respects at a private service in Frankfort before Battiato was buried in Peotone.
That Battiato left them way too soon was the lament of firefighters and bikers, friends and family.
“It is a horrific tragedy,” South Chicago Heights Assistant Fire Chief Larry Nardoni said.
Harries and Battiato first met as paramedics for Superior Ambulance Service and quickly became buddies. Then when Harries learned Battiato was certified to work on Indian motorcycles, they became business partners.
“He told me one of his dreams was to own his own motorcycle shop,” recalled Harries, who with Battiato owned Mid-America Choppers in Manteno for three years.
“It ended up becoming a place for serious bikers to hang out.”
As a paramedic specializing in critical care, Battiato was “the best of the best” at his craft, according to Chicago firefighter and paramedic Sean Sloe. Battiato, he said, tended to people when they were at their sickest, and often was a mentor to younger co-workers.
“He would make the time,” said Sloe, who also worked with Battiato at Superior Ambulance Service. “No matter who it was and where it was, he wanted to show people what he had learned.”
But family was his top priority.
Battiato was a husband and a father to six children, three boys and three girls, ranging in age from 5 months to 15 years.
Friends said they were the reason Battiato dropped out of a favorite motorcycle club, so he could take in more weekend activities and youth sporting events.
They also were the reason he worked two full-time jobs, with the South Chicago Heights Fire Department and with the Air Angels medical flight crew in Bolingbrook.
“He wanted to make sure he supported his family with all he could give,” Nardoni said. “He did what he needed to do.”
Harries found some solace knowing his friend died trying to help others.
“I guess it makes it easier, but, really, nothing makes it any easier,” he said. “The man was 41 years old. He has six kids. He should still be here with us. None of us is ready to accept that he’s gone.”
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