Firefighter who died on duty remembered as mentor, friend

For the second time in little more than a week, Chicago firefighters made a sad procession to the morgue today to honor a fallen colleague.

Walter Patmon Jr., 61, an 18-year veteran, died late Sunday night after going into cardiac arrest within hours of responding to a small kitchen fire in the 1500 block of West 99th Street, according to Chicago Fire Department spokesman Will Knight said. The firefighters discovered meat burning on a stove, officials said.

After returning to his firehouse, Patmon experienced shortness of breath while cleaning equipment, Knight said. He was taken to Little Company of Mary Hospital, where he went into cardiac arrest and was pronounced dead at 11:21 p.m.

Patmon's body was taken early Monday to the medical examiner's office, accompanied by a procession of fire and police vehicles. Dozens of firefighters and police officers lined the streets outside the office and saluted as the procession passed under an American flag hanging from an extended fire truck ladder.

With many bowing their heads and removing their helmets, the firefighters then gathered for a communal prayer before the firefighter's body was taken inside.

The death came three days after the funeral of Capt. Herbert "Herbie" Johnson, a 32-year fire department veteran who died while battling an extra-alarm blaze. Johnson was remembered Thursday during an emotional service attended by Mayor Rahm Emanuel and hundreds of firefighters at a Southwest Side church.

Patmon is survived his his wife and three daughters, according to the fire department.

Firefighter Dave Beason was placing purple bunting at Engine Company 121's station house at 1700 W. 95th St. in the Beverly neighborhood this morning.

He remembered Patmon as a good mentor to other firefighters.

“He was a great guy,’’ Beason said.  “He was always smiling, and he was someone who was always willing to teach you.

“He put himself out to help you in any way he could,’’ he said. “Whenever you knew you were going to work with him, you knew you were going to have a good day.’’

Beason worked with Patmon for six years before being transferred to O’Hare International Airport. He said he learned how to drive a fire truck from Patmon.

Patmon "was a real family man,’’ Beason added.  “He just adored his daughters.’’

Patmon was also famous for his barbecues, and Beason said he even encouraged him to open up his own eatery. “Anyone who knew him knew that he made the best barbecue."

Irving Brown Sr., a 63-year-old retired fire captain, said he had known Patmon for about 40 years. They grew up together in the area around 79th Street and Halsted Avenue.  "He really had an attitude that was golden," Brown said.

Known for his barbecue rub, Patmon loved to cook, Brown said. Not even the weather could stop him from barbecuing in his back yard.

"Whenever he had the fancy, he would cook," Brown said, including on wintry days when the temperature fell below freezing.

Neighbors also remembered Patmon for his tidy lawn.

"He took a lot of pride in his house," said Maurnice Ambrose, Patmon's next-door neighbor. Though always friendly, she added, Patmon often kept to himself.

Brown said Patmon joined the fire department in 1994 after working as a truck driver and as a postal clerk at Michael Reese Hospital. Brown said Patmon's love of people made him a perfect fit for the job.

"Once he got on, you couldn't pull him off of that job with two airplanes and a tow truck," Irving said.

Brown said Patmon graduated from Calumet High School.

Tom Ryan, president of the Chicago Firefighters Union Local 2, praised Patmon's commitment to his job.

"To go through the academy at 23 is hard enough," Ryan said. "To go through at at 43? That's even harder.

"It's been a very, very difficult time for all of us," Ryan said about the two recent firefighter deaths. "It just doesn't seem like we're getting a break."

asege@tribune.com

Twitter: @AdamSege