Firefighter’s funeral delayed after widow goes into labor, welcomes baby daughter days after his death

The family of fallen Chicago firefighter Michael Altman arrived at one of the hardest weeks of their lives expecting to say goodbye. Instead, they also welcomed a new member of the family.

Altman, a 32 year old firefighter EMT with the Chicago Fire Department, died after suffering critical injuries while battling an apartment fire in Chicago’s Rogers Park neighborhood. During the response, the floor beneath him collapsed and he fell into the building’s basement. He was transported to Stroger Hospital, where he later died from his injuries.

His funeral had been scheduled for March 27. Family members, fellow firefighters, city officials, and community supporters were preparing to gather for a final farewell. Then plans suddenly changed.

The Chicago Fire Department announced that the service would be postponed because Altman’s widow, Nora Altman, had gone into labor.

Hours later, the family received news that stood in sharp contrast to the loss they had been carrying.

Nora gave birth to the couple’s daughter, Evelyn Rose.

The newborn joins her older brother, Theodore, who was just two years old when his father died. According to Altman’s obituary, he was a devoted husband and father whose life centered on family, service, and the people around him.

Altman’s death sent shockwaves through Chicago’s firefighting community.

Assigned to Truck 47, he was approaching his second anniversary with the department. Fire officials said he represented the fourth generation of his family to serve in the Chicago Fire Department, continuing a legacy that stretched back decades.

Thousands of residents, firefighters, retirees, and local officials gathered during visitation services to honor his memory. Flags across Illinois were lowered to half staff as tributes continued throughout the city.

Authorities have also arrested a suspect in connection with the fire. Prosecutors charged Sheaves Slate with first degree murder and arson related to the blaze that claimed Altman’s life.

As the Altman family prepares for a funeral that has yet to be rescheduled, they face two milestones that arrived within days of one another: the loss of a husband and father, and the birth of a daughter who will grow up hearing stories about him from those who served beside him.

For many who gathered to honor Michael Altman, the arrival of Evelyn Rose added a new chapter to a week defined by grief, remembrance, and family.