Pete Rosengren, a father of three from Batavia, Illinois, was a brave and caring man. That much is evident from the way the 42-year-old died.
While on vacation in Florida with his family, Pete saw two children struggling in the water. The conditions were rough, and two red flags were flying, letting beachgoers know that it wasn't safe to swim at the time. Regardless, Pete didn't hesitate to rush into the waters to attempt to rescue the children.
Both of the children survived, thanks to Pete's incredibly quick and selfless action. But sadly, he did not. “There were children that needed assistance,” said Pete's best friend, Joe Shaker, in an interview with News at 10.
“He went without hesitation into the water and saved these children. Unfortunately, his life was not saved.”
His friend continued on about the kind of person Pete was. “He was one in a million,” Joe said. “Pete was your definition of just a best friend, always putting others in front of himself.”
He also spoke about how much Pete loved his wife, who was his college sweetheart. “She was the love of his life, and his three boys meant the world to him,” he said. “He was an avid coach, too. I would say he loved getting on the baseball field with his sons.”
Joe also called Pete a hero for what he did. Others who knew him, as well as the families of those he saved, would surely agree.
Pete was the vice president of sales and digital strategy for the Daily Herald. After hearing about the rescue, Scott Stone, the president and chief operating officer, said, "Pete was always there for others. That was his DNA. Pete had an oversized personality, a quick wit, humor, and unique compassion for others. It's no surprise his final minute was spent helping others."
For more on the story, watch the video.
