Kyle Tequila

As my wife and I sit here by the fire, watching our five-year-old son Lincoln reading The Night Before Christmas with his grandfather, I'm also reminded of just how much I loved my dad when I was that age. And even after everything that's happened since, I'll always remember the man that he was when I was young.

As my wife and I sit here by the fire, watching our five-year-old son Lincoln reading The Night Before Christmas with his grandfather, I'm also reminded of just how much I loved my dad when I was that age. And even after everything that's happened since, I'll always remember the man that he was when I was young.

I'm back with my dad's old ambulance partner, Mike. I tell him what I know about Ken's mafia past and he sits there calmly listening. It's mostly me talking and I can't tell one way or the other if he's heard any of this before. He's certainly not telling me if he has.

I'm back with my dad's old ambulance partner, Mike. I tell him what I know about Ken's mafia past and he sits there calmly listening. It's mostly me talking and I can't tell one way or the other if he's heard any of this before. He's certainly not telling me if he has.

Amidst all of the awful things that happened in Ken's life, and perhaps maybe even because of it, he threw his entire self into his work as a firefighter.

Amidst all of the awful things that happened in Ken's life, and perhaps maybe even because of it, he threw his entire self into his work as a firefighter.

I dug up some articles from local papers mentioning Ken's exploits as a first responder. One article from 1992 interviews Ken, who was fighting for fair pay for his fellow medics. And in a sort of twist of fate, another article from the Daily Herald in 1991 mentions Ken as the first firefighter on the scene of a fatal plane crash at DuPage Airport.

I dug up some articles from local papers mentioning Ken's exploits as a first responder. One article from 1992 interviews Ken, who was fighting for fair pay for his fellow medics. And in a sort of twist of fate, another article from the Daily Herald in 1991 mentions Ken as the first firefighter on the scene of a fatal plane crash at DuPage Airport.

Just a little over a decade after that American Airlines crash that inspired Ken to join the fire department in the first place.

Just a little over a decade after that American Airlines crash that inspired Ken to join the fire department in the first place.

There were many occasions over the years where I got to see him in action. At the station, on ride-alongs, neighborhood events. I witnessed firsthand the respect of his peers and his chief. One of my favorite memories of all time was probably in third or fourth grade when my dad was invited to speak in front of my whole school about fire safety.

There were many occasions over the years where I got to see him in action. At the station, on ride-alongs, neighborhood events. I witnessed firsthand the respect of his peers and his chief. One of my favorite memories of all time was probably in third or fourth grade when my dad was invited to speak in front of my whole school about fire safety.

After the speech, there was a Q&A with the students and one smart ass kid takes the microphone, points at my dad's pants and goes, did you know your fly was open? So my dad looks down and sure enough, his zipper has been open this entire time. So he just looks at this kid right in the eye and he goes, I just wanted to make sure you all were paying attention.

After the speech, there was a Q&A with the students and one smart ass kid takes the microphone, points at my dad's pants and goes, did you know your fly was open? So my dad looks down and sure enough, his zipper has been open this entire time. So he just looks at this kid right in the eye and he goes, I just wanted to make sure you all were paying attention.

And he zips it back up and the whole place just went nuts. I mean, people were crying, laughing, the kids, the teachers, everyone. One of the funniest things I've ever seen.

And he zips it back up and the whole place just went nuts. I mean, people were crying, laughing, the kids, the teachers, everyone. One of the funniest things I've ever seen.

And then, sometime in the late 90s, the guys at the station had just finished their dinner when the alarm bell sounded and a call came through that would forever change Kenny's life and set in motion a disastrous chain of events that would eventually destroy our entire family.

And then, sometime in the late 90s, the guys at the station had just finished their dinner when the alarm bell sounded and a call came through that would forever change Kenny's life and set in motion a disastrous chain of events that would eventually destroy our entire family.

In the years following the accident, the painkillers became a constant companion. And as the addiction got worse, Ken gradually shrank inward and distanced himself from his family and friends.

In the years following the accident, the painkillers became a constant companion. And as the addiction got worse, Ken gradually shrank inward and distanced himself from his family and friends.