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| July 22, 2008 News |
| Adam William Schatz: 1981 - 2008 |
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 | Adam William Schatz
(Photo: Joe Brittin) |
It is with great sadness that eKartingNews.com presents this memoriam for Adam William Schatz of Chicago, Illinois, who passed away on Saturday evening due to injuries suffered in a crash on July 12 at the Road America Super Nationals in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. The 26-year old was on life support at the Theda Clark Memorial Hospital in Neenah, WI since the accident, with his parents, Bill and Grace, and sister Becca, at his bedside. Adam had injured his brain stem and the top of the spinal cord and it was necessary that he be kept on a ventilator after being resuscitated at the track by the medical staff. Although tests showed that he had normal brain activity and was given special medication to help heal the connection, the highly-trained medical staff deemed that he would not breathe again on his own and would remain unresponsive. On Saturday evening, an organ donor team took Adam under their care where they removed his organs to be donated to others in need throughout the country.
Adam comes from a racing family as both his parents were former competitors. Adam began karting at the age of seven. Competing in both sprint and road racing, Adam became an accomplished karter. Racing took a back seat when Schatz attended the University of Illinois-Chicago, where he would earn a mechanical engineering degree. Following graduation and getting a job with the city of Chicago, Schatz returned to full-time competition in the Championship Enduro Series in the TaG divisions. With the help of CKT Motorsports, Mike Manning Karting, and Motori Seven, Schatz earned multiple wins over the past few years.
“I was blessed with the presence of Adam in my life from the time he was just a little guy,” stated CKT Motorsports’ Jim Perry. “I am proud to say I have always thought of Adam as one of my sons. Adam brought such joy to my life. He kept me in line and made sure I was ok, especially most recently when I had my heart attack and he took care of the shop in my absence. I hope he realizes how inspirational he was and how many people were inspired by him, including me.”
EKN would like to extend its deepest sympathies to the Schatz family. To post your prayers to the family or great memories of Adam, please visit the thread in the forums HERE.
Visitation will be held on Wednesday from 3pm-9pm at Smith-Corcoran Funeral Home, 6150 N. Cicero Ave., Chicago, IL. The funeral will be 9:30am at the Smith-Corcoran Funeral Home to St. Mary of the Woods Church, 7000 N. Moselle, Chicago, IL for Mass at 10:00 am before his final resting place at the Entombment Maryhill Cemetery.
A benefit fund was set up for the Schatz family over the past week, set up by the River Valley Kart Club. Donations may be sent to the following:
American Enterprise Bank
275 S. Roselle Road
Schaumburg, IL 60196
Checks payable to Adam Schatz Benefit sponsored by RVKC |
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