Chicago firefighter Andrew Price remembered for positivity, compassion at memorial service

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Family, friends and fellow firefighters gathered Monday for a memorial service for fallen Chicago firefighter Andrew Price.

It's been one week since the 39-year-old Lt. Price was killed in a fire in Lincoln Park.

Price died after falling though a light shaft of a roof of a four-story building in the 2400-block of Lincoln Avenue. He was opening holes for ventilation when he fell through a skylight.

Price was a 14-year veteran of the fire department. He received a final farewell on a gray day at Navy Pier's grand ballroom from a forever grateful community, as biting winds whipped off Lake Michigan.

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A solemn salute ushered in the remains of Lt. Price. His bunker gear adorned fire engine 55 as it made its way to Navy Pier.

"Your brothers and sisters from Truck 44 and Engine 55 miss you. Thank for you being a wonderful person, and thank you for being part of our lives," firefighter John Haring said.

Price was the top driver for Truck 44 and was also a trainer at the fire academy.

"What I know about Drew is he brought people together," CFD Commissioner Annette Nance-Holt said. "He brought different races, different classes, different people together. He cared."

Colleagues spoke of his dynamic courage, compassion and strength.

"He was always complimenting people and doing small things for others," firefighter Dustin Jeffers said. "He was truly selfless."

Price's family said it was his childhood dream to become a firefighter, and he lived that dream incredibly.

"A natural caretaker at heart, he couldn't help but put his own priorities aside to make sure everyone else's needs were above his own," Drew's brother, Jordan Price, said.

One memory of Price that was shared by loved ones was how he would do a "hang loose" hand symbol and say "Mahalo." Expressing gratitude was his way of life.

"Every picture Drew was in, he would hold up that hand sign," Jordan Price said. "He was so full of life, positivity, and a wild sense of adventure that it was hard to imagine anything or anyone bringing him down."

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He was also remembered for his infectious positivity and the rare, remarkable gift of always being present to those he loved.

Price died just weeks before his 40th birthday.

Firefighters said he almost always arrived to work before everyone else, greeting his colleagues with the phrase, "good morning, my guy."

"Sincere and pure: To me, that's who Drew was," said Battalion Chief Pat Gallagher, Price's friend.

It's been a very difficult year for the Chicago Fire Department, Price's death marked the fourth time a member of CFD died in the line of duty.