“He was always the connector. He was always the friendly person in the room. He was always smiling. I mean he brought joy to everyone that met him” (Cousin Tanya Adams). 

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On April 5, 2023 Lieutenant Tchoryk lost his life while battling a high-rise fire early in the morning. The fire sparked around 7:30 a.m. on the 27th floor of an apartment building in the 1200 block of north Lake Shore Drive. The fire quickly grew and an extra alarm was called which prompted multiple houses to show up to the scene.  

One of the houses responding was Tower Ladder 10, led by 20-year veteran with the Chicago Fire Department and a Navy Vet, Lieutenant Jan Tchoryk. While climbing the stars due to the elevators being inoperable, Tchoryk collapsed suddenly, and a mayday was called as his crews started performing CPR. Tchoryk was then transferred to ambulance 66 where they continued CPR to Northwestern Hospital. Unfortunately, despite their efforts, he succumbed to his injuries.  

His cause of death was hypertensive-arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease, which translates to a heart attack due to natural causes.  

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Jan Tchoryk will always be remembered as a selfless leader that always wore a smile. He is survived by his wife, Natalia and his children, Jacqueline Nicole, Dylan, Olivia, and Grace. 

Our thoughts and prayers are with the Tchoryk family and the Chicago Fire Department. 

To donate in memory of Lieutenant Tchoryk, please visit our Fallen Heroes Donation page.