A Tri-Cities resident and Elgin Community College student was found dead Tuesday in an Elburn home, according to media reports.
Michael D. Fairbanks, 19, whose last known address was in the 1700 block of Jeanette Avenue in St. Charles, was found unresponsive in a home in the 300 block of West Nebraska Street, the Kane County Chronicle reports. Paramedics responded to the home at about 3:35 p.m. where he was dead at the scene.
Authorities told the Chronicle that no foul play is suspected in Fairbanks' death. Police continue to investigate the death, which was being mourned by many who remembered his kindness, activism and leadership.
Fairbanks was Youth Leader of the Year in 2009 for his work with the Youth Outlook, an organization founded in DuPage County to serve gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender or questioning youth, according the Chronicle.
The January 2012 graduate also was a leader of the Gay Straight Alliance at St. Charles East High School, where a social worker told the Chronicle his efforts spotlighted such issues as diversity and bullying. He also had been active in the Fox Valley Repertory.
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Gregg Slapak
9:45 am on Thursday, February 28, 2013
Ohh, soo, very tragic and sad. May his very young soul rest in everlasting peace in heaven where it seemed his being was unable to here on earth. And, to the family, I feel sincerely so bad and troubled by this news. May peace, in/over time, be with you all. Gregg Slapak/Wheaton
R G
7:09 am on Friday, March 1, 2013
Gregg,
Yes, this is sad for a young life to be lost. Unless he was a Christian. Then he is absent from the body and with Christ. Based on his "life achievements", he was not living like a Christian would. But who is to say at his last breath that he didn't confess Jesus as Lord and repent from his sins. That is the only way he would achieve peace, otherwise he is worse off than he was here on earth.
Debbie Miller
7:54 am on Friday, March 1, 2013
RG you my friend (foe) are a total idiot!!!!
Pat Fitz
8:31 am on Friday, March 1, 2013
RG = Idiot!!! (Well said Debbie)
John Perdikus
9:35 am on Friday, March 1, 2013
He's just saying what many are thinking, like it or not.
Danny
10:04 am on Friday, March 1, 2013
So you don't think that his friends and family might read the Patch? You think it's OK during a time of intense grief and sadness to spout your intolerant version of religion that you have no factual basis for in a public forum? At least the ones who aren't saying it but think it are leaving these poor souls alone.
Raymond Gibbons
9:56 pm on Monday, March 4, 2013
John,
Please keep me out of your religious fanatic group of "many", thank you. Such hateful, hurtful comments never entered my perspective.
Ray
Dale Grischow
12:31 pm on Friday, March 1, 2013
Rest in Peace Michael. I will remember you as a friend of my daughters and know that the good lord will be receiving you with open arms.
R G
2:42 pm on Friday, March 1, 2013
For all of you who hate the truth, you should read Romans 1:16-32. I am not ashamed of the gospel.
Matthew 5:44 says to love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.
Matthew 10:22 says I will be hated by many because of my faith in Jesus.
I don't care what names you call me. I am proclaiming the truth, not a religion.
For the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God.
You are not angry at me, you are angry at the God of the universe who has the ability to throw your soul into hell for eternity. I praise God that you are at least affected by what I said.
Repent of your sins, confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord, believe He was raised from the dead and you will be saved.
I am praying for you.
No more taxes
11:08 pm on Friday, March 1, 2013
Reading an old book of fiction and quoting it to back up your attack on a person just makes you an weak minded, backwards, ignorant fool RG. Such intolerance of others for their differences is what makes their life much harder than it should be. My thoughts are with the family/friends and from what I have read on here is that his time on this Earth was well spent and he seems to have had a positive effect on this community.
A real news reporter
3:41 pm on Friday, March 1, 2013
Instead of reading this third-hand report that is relying completely on what the Kane County Chronicle reports, perhaps you all should be supporting your local newspaper/website. Did you know that Patch is owned by AOL? Can't you see that it isn't doing its own reporting on this event?
Debbie Miller
11:17 pm on Friday, March 1, 2013
No more taxes....thank you for putting into words what I was thinking but was so furious that I could not put it into words..I very rarely post any of my views, however, this one really, really upset me. To his family....I have never knew your son. MY god, that I believe in, will take care of him and bless him for all that he has done!
Gregg Slapak
2:11 pm on Saturday, March 2, 2013
To: A Real news Reported Here's a good link about "patchwriting" and we have one of the worst editors of such to contend with in Wheaton. Ethics?? Toss them to journalistic wind.http://www.poynter.org/latest-news/everyday-ethics/188789/patchwriting-is-more-common-than-plagiarism-just-as-dishonest/
Gregg Slapak
2:12 pm on Saturday, March 2, 2013
RG: I am I my knees for you, too!
Raymond Gibbons
10:02 pm on Monday, March 4, 2013
R G
Your original post is a sickening, scary display of a brain damaged "Christian" who doesn't understand the meaning of the label that you self proclaim. You should be ashamed, and then repent.
Ray
Colin C.
8:07 am on Tuesday, March 5, 2013
RG,
As long as you wish to believe in and quote the Bible may I respectfully suggest that you study Matthew 22:37-40 (Jesus names the most important commandments), Matthew 7:1-5 (Jesus speaks about judging others), and 1Corinthians 13, (Paul speaks of the importance of love [agape, the love of God and humankind]).
I'm not sure just who you believe placed you in charge of passing judgement on people but before you do it again perhaps you might be wise to look up everything the Bible has to say about hypocrites.
Gregg Slapak
2:09 pm on Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Amen, brother Colin! RG is full of hate, certainly not what is professed within "Christianity".