Richard J. McVicker, 69, a retired Chicago fire captain who made headlines in 1969 for saving four children from a burning basement, died Saturday, Feb. 17, in Christ Hospital and Medical Center in Oak Lawn. Mr. McVicker had been with the department for seven years when he responded to a call on June 17, 1969, to a South Side house fire. He arrived to find two mothers weeping for their children trapped inside the home that was obscured by smoke. A mail carrier and a police officer had tried to enter the building but turned back because of the smoke. Mr. McVicker broke a window, climbed into the basement and groped around until he discovered three of the children. He returned to the building for the fourth. His actions drew wide acclaim. The Chicago Tribune gave him a monthly hero award and he was nominated for the Fire Department’s top two honors for heroism. McVicker downplayed the hero label, telling the Tribune: “I was just doing what I’m paid to do.” John Santangelo, now 36, was 4 when Mr. McVicker saved his life. “We stayed in touch ever since. We considered him our own personal fireman and our own personal hero,” he said. “Over all the years, it finally hits you how lucky you really are and now to lose such a great person is really hard to take.” Born and raised on the Southeast Side, Mr. McVicker graduated from Chicago Vocational School before joining the Navy. He worked briefly as a milkman before joining the Fire Department. A longtime Mt. Greenwood resident, he retired from the department in December. He had worked on Truck 34 at 80th Street and South Chicago Avenue. Two of his sons work for the Chicago Fire Department and one is a detective with the Police Department. He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Arlene; three daughters, Laura Felton, Linda Pressner and Carol Willis; three sons, Ed, Robert and Dan; and 15 grandchildren. A service will begin at 8:45 a.m. Tuesday in Beverly Ridge Funeral Home, 10415 S. Kedzie Ave. A mass will be said at 9:30 a.m. in Saint Christina Church, 11005 S. Homan Ave.
