John F. Corrigan, 87, of Mt. Prospect, a retired fire alarm operator for the Chicago Fire Department, died of complications from emphysema Friday, May 17, in The Moorings Health Center in Arlington Heights. Born and raised in Chicago, Mr. Corrigan was the son of Michael J. Corrigan, Chicago’s fire commissioner in the 1940s and mid-1950s. After graduating from Weber High School in Chicago, Mr. Corrigan joined the department as an assistant telephone repair operator in 1937. Over the years he worked in the communications department and was appointed chief fire alarm operator in 1973. He retired a year later. Mr. Corrigan was a quiet but friendly man who “could fix anything you could put in front of him,” said his son Joseph. Mr. Corrigan and his late wife, Mildred, lived in Chicago before moving to Mt. Prospect in 1979. Mr. Corrigan is also survived by another son, Edward; seven grandchildren; and a great-grandchild. Visitation will be from 3 to 9 p.m. Tuesday in Lauterburg & Oehler Funeral Home, 2000 E. Northwest Highway, Arlington Heights. Prayers will be said at 9:15 a.m. Wednesday in the funeral home, followed by a mass at 10 a.m. in St. Emily Catholic Church, 1400 E. Central Rd., Mt. Prospect.
