Excerpts from ChicagoSunTimes.com:
Cheryl Michalek was known for her unique blend of toughness and warmth, earning her the nickname “Trauma Mama.†Her approach to emergency medical training combined a sharp, no-nonsense attitude with deep maternal care. For decades, she trained thousands of first-responders, who in turn passed on what they learned to even more emergency medical technicians, paramedics, firefighters, and police officers.
Mrs. Michalek passed away on March 5 at her home in Riverdale after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease, according to her husband, Richard, whom she had been married to for 57 years. She was 77. Her wake and funeral were attended by numerous firefighters and police officers in full dress uniform, a testament to the respect she earned throughout her career. The Dolton Fire Department even raised an aerial ladder and flew the American flag in her honor.
For many years, Mrs. Michalek would finish her nursing shift at Little Company of Mary Hospital and then head to EMT classes she volunteered to teach in the south and southwest suburbs. Even in uniform, she showed up night after night, driven by a passion for teaching and helping others.
“She always told us that when you’re treating a patient, you should treat them like family,†said Midlothian Fire Chief Stephen M. Hotwagner. “They are someone’s son, daughter, father, or brother. You have to give them the same respect and care you’d want for your own loved ones.â€
Teaching such a tough crowd wasn’t always easy. Many of her students were overconfident but under-experienced. But Cheryl was a city girl from North Roseland—used to handling all kinds of people. If someone interrupted a lesson with arrogance, she wouldn’t hesitate to challenge them. “Do you wanna get up here and you teach?†she might ask, leaving no room for nonsense.
Dr. Bernie Heilicser, medical director of the South Cook County EMS System, said, “She trained so many EMTs with passion and humility. She truly made a difference.â€
Her students included three Chicago fire commissioners: James Joyce, Ray Orozco Jr., and Robert Hoff, according to her son Gary, a firefighter himself. “Cheryl was one of the pioneers,†said Dr. Michael O’Mara, chair of emergency medicine at Little Company of Mary. “She was one of the first nurses to teach EMTs on the South Side.â€
Those who knew her well remembered her generosity and strength. Sue Stacey, a dispatch supervisor, recalled, “I remember my mom going through her purse and pulling out pennies to buy a pool pass for the summer. We didn’t take vacations, but we had Sunday dinner together.â€
If her students struggled, she invited them over for study sessions. Another son, Rick, who now works in construction, said, “She never turned anyone away. She believed in helping people learn.â€
Cheryl is survived by her husband, Richard; their three sons—Gary, Rick, and Scott, a Metra conductor; 13 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. Her legacy lives on in the countless lives she touched and the generations of first responders she helped shape.
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