Daniel Rice, a youth baseball coach who was described as a kind person who just “clicked” with his players, died Wednesday, two days after being struck by lightning on a baseball diamond in Buffalo Grove.
“He was just a nice, caring man. Everyone on the team is going to miss him,” said Elaine Locker, whose son, Philip, 11, is a pitcher and first baseman on Rice’s team, the Indians.
“We only knew him for a month or two since the kids started playing together, but we loved him as a coach. My son isn’t too verbal about his feelings, but he really liked him too. They clicked.”
Rice, 47, of Buffalo Grove was pronounced dead at 1:11 p.m. in Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood, according to a spokesman there. An autopsy is scheduled for Thursday.
Rice had gone into cardiac arrest as a result of the lightning strike, authorities said.
Locker said the Indians team members, ages 10 to 12, and their families planned to meet Wednesday evening in an assistant coach’s home to talk with a social worker. Rice’s son, Jason, is a member of the team.
Although the death has left the team in disarray, Locker said the boys will probably play their next scheduled game Monday in Rice’s memory.
“It’s going to be a very difficult experience to start up again,” Locker said. “But it might be the best decision. We’ll keep playing for him.”
The Buffalo Grove Recreation Association will probably plant a blue spruce “tree of life” and install a plaque in Rice’s honor at a local park, said Dominick Dovichi, president of the youth baseball organization.
“We extend our deepest condolences to his family. It’s a very tragic accident,” Dovichi said. “Here was a young man, very dedicated to children. It kind of takes the wind out of you.”
Rice was a project director and manager for Bell & Howell in Lincolnwood. Funeral arrangements were unavailable Wednesday.
Rice and the coach of the Astros, Martin Magida, 46, were talking to each other on the baseball field at Cooper Middle School, 1050 Plum Grove Circle, when lightning knocked both men to the ground.
More Top Picks Best Memory Foam Mattresses For Side Sleepers
Players and parents had taken shelter from the storm in cars and were waiting to hear from the coaches whether their game would be played.
The lightning hit Rice directly in the head. Magida received a “sidesplash” shock, but he got up and walked off the field.
Magida was released from Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Heights Tuesday morning.