I was born and raised in Chicago, and during the eighties attended a Catholic grade school on the Northwest Side. I was also acquainted with Victor Jacobellis' parents and sister (my mother still talks with Grace Ann to this day), as well as many police officers and firefighters. Once, during a visit to the Jacobellis family's home (I was probably about eight at the time), I saw a baseball glove and a framed photo of Victor on their dining-room table. I asked my mom why these items were there. She said the child had died a long time ago and not to mention it to either Grace Ann or her parents. I completely forgot about this until one day, I noticed my mom had bought "To Sleep With The Angels." Being the bookworm I am, I decided it looked interesting. I grabbed it and got comfy. I couldn't put it down. To put it mildly, I was horrified that so many people died, in such an awful way -- and that it took a tragedy of that magnitude to strengthen fire-safety codes. And my heart broke at how many others that fire affected, too: the firefighters who put out the fire and brought out the children, the police officers, the priests and nuns, families in the neighborhood and throughout the city. The book really brings that side of the tragedy to life. In addition, I was floored to learn Victor Jacobellis was a victim. Now I know why my mom cautioned me not to ask the Jacobellis family about him. I shudder to think what would have happened had I done so. My prayers go out to the OLA fire survivors and their families, the OLA religious community, and the Jacobellis family (including Grace Ann and her late mother, Emma). May the good Lord bring you peace and strength.
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