Battalion Chief John Schneidwind -- one of three members of the Schaumburg Fire Department who traveled to the World Trade Center after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attack -- is retiring from the department this week after 34 years to become chief of the Itasca Fire Protection District.
Schneidwind received his retirement plaque from Schaumburg Mayor Tom Dailly at last week's village board meeting and will shortly begin his new service in neighboring Itasca. For the past 20 years, Schneidwind has frequently been called upon to share memories of his five fateful days in New York City and how his perspective on them has changed over time.
In September 2001, he had two young children at home who'd ask him when he was going to return every time they spoke on the phone.
Today, he is a grandfather.