'Hero' Dad of 3 Who Survived 9/11 Drowns Trying to Save Kids During Boating Trip on Lake Michigan

Luke Laidley jumped into the water on July 4 to help rescue children whose tube had flipped over and were struggling to swin

By Kimberlee Speakman Updated on July 6, 2023 05:29PM EDT

{snip}

Father who drowned in Winnetka near Centennial Park Beach was Sept. 11 survivor

ByABC7 Chicago Digital Team
Thursday, July 6, 2023

WINNETKA, Ill. (WLS) -- The Winnetka father who died trying to save children while boating near Centennial Park Beach Tuesday was a 9/11 survivor. ... Luke Laidley, 43, jumped into the waters of Lake Michigan Tuesday when a tube his boat was pulling flipped and multiple children started struggling in the water. ... Others on the boat were able to get Laidley aboard and began CPR on him. He was taken to the hospital in serious condition and died a short time later.

His family said Laidley was a 9/11 survivor, and was working in Tower Two when the attack happened. It was just his second day on the job. ... His family released the following statement:

Born on September 14, 1979, Luke Laidley was the fifth of six kids to Forrest and Diane Laidley of Libertyville, IL. Raised in the northern suburbs of Chicago, Luke was an avid athlete and grounded himself in faith as a graduate of Carmel Catholic High School in Mundelein and Boston College where the tenant philosophy was to serve as men and women for others.

After graduating from Boston College with a degree in Finance, he took his first job at 21 years old with Morgan Stanley in New York City. Morgan Stanley was the largest tenant in Tower 2 of the World Trade Center. His second day on the job was September 11, 2001. As a survivor of the 61th floor of Tower 2, he later wrote, "I encourage all of us to count our blessings each and every day. Give of yourself and expect nothing in return. And become part of something that is greater than yourself."

After 9/11 he moved back to Chicago, where Luke had a successful career in finance. He was a high school football coach at both Carmel Catholic and Loyola Academy, but his proudest accomplishment was his marriage with his wife Lauren (nee Damico). Happily married for nearly 10 years, and blessed parents of Lucas (7) ,Vivian (5), and Logan (3). His true passion in life was being a devoted husband and a loving father. Luke and his family moved to Winnetka, and joined the Catholic parish Faith Hope and Charity, where they are active parishioners and where their 3 children attend school.

{snip}