Grissom Teacher, 25, Dies Suddenly

TINLEY PARK, IL — A sixth-grade, special education teacher at Grissom Middle School died suddenly Friday afternoon, according to the school. Abby Ohl was 25.

"Miss Ohl had only been at Grissom for three years but had developed wonderful relationships with our students and staff in her role as teacher and Student Council Sponsor," the school said in a statement.

Parents were called by the school Saturday, and extra support staff was available Monday for students who wanted to talk to someone, according to the school. Grissom also was open Sunday afternoon for students and parents who wanted to talk to a counselor.

Ohl graduated from Eastern Illinois University. She worked extensively with people with autism and volunteered with Special Olympics and at the Charleston Transitional Facility.

In April 2002, Ohl's older brother, Taylor, died unexpectedly at the age of 14, according to a Chicago Tribune article from that time. He was found unresponsive in the family's Tinley Park home.

Abby Ohl is survived by her parents, Dennis and Susan, and her brother, Thomas, a ground intelligence officer with the U.S. Marines, according to her obituary. Susan Ohl also teaches in Kirby School District 140 at Helen Keller Elementary School in Tinley Park.

Visitation will be from 3 to 9 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 21, at St. George Catholic Church, 6707 175th St., Tinley Park. A funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Monday, Oct. 22, at the church, and interment will follow at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Alsip.

Go to the Vandenberg Funeral Home for more details.

Grissom Middle School (Photo via Kirby School District 140)