WGA Evans Scholars Magazine, Winter 2018

Fighting to keep afloat Marty helped his son Jack and a niece latch onto a life ring pushing them to safety according to newspaper reports The other kids had also been rescued But a relative who jumped into the water to help Marty was unable to save him By the time paramedics arrived and pulled him from the water it was too late Although some memories are hazy Jack remembers being hoisted from the water and frantically searching for the rest of his family All my cousins luckily escaped but it wasnt until many minutes later that I saw my dads lifeless body being dragged in from the surf by firemen he recalls The children were safe but their hero a father and uncle was gone And Marty was a hero in all senses of the word One of 10 children he had spent 25 years as a social worker helping abused and neglected children He was a volunteer youth coach and a passionate fundraiser as well as a great dad and loving husband Maureen Jordan recalls He was always one to help change diapers and play games with the kids as well as tackle household chores like taking out the garbage Although he died honorably hes still gone Maureen told the Chicago Tribune almost a year after her husbands death The kids on some level have some understanding that he died for a reason And its not from me saying it because Im still struggling with that But I do believe that without a doubt he couldnt have lived with himself if any of the children had died A new reality For the Jordan family it was time to face a new reality It wasnt until the next day when the full magnitude of the situation hit me Jack recalls I was now at nine years old the oldest of three kids with a widowed mother who was expecting a baby Every expectation I had about the future was gone in an instant No other day has impacted the course of his life more Jack says It plays a huge part in my background and in the person I am today he says Maureen who once had worked in hospice had her youngest Marty Jr on St Patricks Day of 2010 For the sake of her kids she tried to hold it together on a daily basis though she struggled to cope on the inside Still it was important to talk about Marty and ensure they remembered their father she said He was their life she told the Tribune in 2010 So to have this huge part of their life gone you cant just act like it didnt happen because thats more damaging They are young and I think its important that they remember their father and that the memories they have of him stay very fresh and thats why I go on And with the help of both her and Martys large extended families as well as community fundraisers life went on continued 5