Funeral For Firefighter Michael Altman Postponed After Wife Goes Into Labor

CHICAGO — Funeral services for Chicago firefighter Michael Altman were postponed after his widow went into labor Thursday.

Altman, 32, died last week from his injuries battling a blaze at a Rogers Park apartment building. He was a fourth-generation firefighter who recently moved to Mount Greenwood with his wife, Nora, and their young son.

Altman’s funeral had been planned for Friday, but the services will be rescheduled because his wife went into labor, Fire Department spokesperson Kathy Chaney said in a statement. A source told CBS2 Nora Altman had a healthy baby girl.

Visitation is set for 3-8 p.m. Thursday at St. Rita of Cascia Shrine Chapel, 7740 S. Western Ave.

The man accused of starting the fire, 27-year-old Sheaves Slate, was charged with murder and arson and was ordered detained Monday pending his trial. Prosecutors alleged Slate was squatting at 1757 W. North Shore Ave. and set the fire after arguing with two tenants around the morning of March 16.

Altman, who worked for Truck 47 in Edgewater, was responding to the fire when he fell through the floor of the building into the basement, into a basement room that was “fully on fire,” according to an online fundraiser for his family. He suffered third-degree burns to 90 percent of his body, prosecutors said.

Altman’s grandfather, Edward P. Altman, was the Fire Department commissioner from 1996 to 1999 under then-Mayor Richard M. Daley. 

Jessi Johnson, a close friend of the family, previously said Altman always wanted to follow in the family tradition. He had been on the job for about two years.

“He was an amazing husband,” Johnson said. “He was so caring, so loving. No matter what, he always showed his affection towards Nora. He was so in love with her.” 

Nearly $600,000 has been raised for Altman’s family as of Thursday afternoon.

Block Club’s Charles Thrush and Jim Lynch contributed reporting.

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