Retired Elgin Fire Chief John Henrici, remembered as a leader who helped fellow firefighters develop the skills needed to grow in their careers, has died at age 84.
ELGIN, Ill. (WLS) A retired deputy fire chief from Elgin who lost his battle with COVID-19 is being remembered as a hero on the frontlines.
It s safe to say fireman Bill Freiberg loved his job. The 74-year-old deputy chief of the Elgin fire department retired years ago, but never really left the job. Both of us loved what we did. We both loved being firefighters, retired Elgin firefighter Larry Judkins said. Bill and I always loved what we did. I told everyone that I had every little boy s dream job. I drove a fire engine for 30 years and they paid me for it. Bill took it farther - he said every rock star, football player, every athlete, when a fire engine went by, they thought that is what I want to be when I grow up.
Updated 12/9/2020 5:31 PM
Retired Elgin Deputy Fire Chief Bill Freiberg died Tuesday at Sherman Hospital from complications of COVID-19, according to Elgin Fire Chief Robb Cagann.
He was 74.
Freiberg retired in 2003 after 27 years with the Elgin Fire Department. Longtime friend and fellow retired firefighter Larry Judkins said they d been pals for 55 years, since back when they both worked at Eagle Foods on Liberty Street in Elgin, with Judkins working in produce and Freiberg in housewares.
In the late 1960s the friends wanted to join the Elgin Fire Department. They both took the test and Judkins joined the department on April 21, 1969. But Freiburg had a problem.