I have really have to stop surfing the net for obituaries. Over here is a story you may have missed.
The Chicago Sun-Times is reporting on the accidental death of Joseph Richardson, 39. He died Monday evening while walking with his four-year-old daughter Kanlyah near the corner of 95th Street and Wentworth.
A car driven by Angelo Thomas approached the pair as they walked home from the local McDonald’s. Seeing the erratically-driven car approach, Richardson raised his daughter up over his head. The car jumped the curb and pinned the pedestrians against a wrought-iron fence.
He was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident. His daughter almost certainly would have died at once save for her father’s quick action. She is in Corner Children’s Hospital in critical condition.
Mr. Thomas was charged with drunken driving, not having a license or insurance and other offenses.
Joseph Richardson is survived by his son and two daughters as well as a twin brother.
Second: I once saw a woman save her Yorkie from an aggressive pit bull the same way, by scooping it up and lifting it above her head. The pit bull backed down as soon as the small dog was out of reach. I really admired the woman’s quick reaction in that case, too.
“So, you lost your father when you were four? I’m so sorry. How did he die?”
“Saving my life.”
[very long pause]
“Have you tried the merlot?”
Seriously, all too often the good die young. What a bittersweet thing for that little girl to grow up with, that her father loved her so much that when in danger his first impulse was to save her.
I don’t know that it was so much guts as just his first impulse. I don’t think it even occurred to him that he was in the same danger, which he obviously was. His own welfare wasn’t even in his mind at all. He sensed danger, grabbed his daughter and put her as far out of danger as he had time for. His whole mind was focused on her. Maybe I’m being a little sentimental here, but I think that’s just about as pure a good person and one can be. My doubt would be that I’m that good a person.
Aw, I’m getting misty-eyed from reading that article. It is really touching that he was so protective of his family. He sounds like a good man, and it’s very sad that his daughter will grow up without him.
