Niles Notre Dame Obituary: Andrew Berghoff, 17

NILES, IL — Niles Notre Dame College Prep sophomore Andrew Dalton Berghoff, 17, died Sunday night after being hospitalized earlier this month.

"His enthusiasm for life touched all those that he encountered and countless others through the power of prayer and his contagious spirit," his father said.

Berghoff was diagnosed with pneumonia earlier this month and was being treated at the pediatric ICU at Lurie Children's Hospital in Chicago when he suffered a stroke, according to his family.

"While Andrew's illness and passing took all of us by surprise, his strength, determination, and indomitable spirit did not," the school said in a statement. "As a community we are using Andrew's example to work together through this difficult time and to support Andrew's family with our thoughts and prayers."

A visitation will be held Thursday from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., and a Mass will take place Friday at 10 a.m. at Queen of All Saints in Chicago, according to the family.

Berghoff, was the manager for the Notre Dame junior varsity hockey team. Earlier this month, after he fell ill, the team and community members gathered to offer prayers.

"Andrew Berghoff is and will always be a Notre Dame College Prep Don and a beloved member of our family," the school said.

Obituary via Berghoff Family:

Andrew was born on September 30, 1999 in San Francisco, CA (a birthday shared with his father, though he lobbied heavily for his dad to choose a different birthday so he didn’t have to share his). Andrew was born critically ill and was promised nothing from life, yet smiled and was resolutely happy even in very challenging circumstances.

Although his time was short, Andrew made every second count. He lived boldly, even fearlessly. His days were filled with humor, compassion, activity, and obvious enthusiasm for it all.

Andrew loved Notre Dame College Prep. As a special needs student, he was a Burke Scholar and student manager of the hockey team. He loved attending football games and displayed a particular affinity for the young ladies he met at those games. He was an ice skating guard at public skate times in Wilmette and worked in the Queen of All Saints Rectory. Ironically for a kid who was tube fed his entire life, his favorite part of working at the rectory was the food preparation.

Anyone who crossed Andrew’s path met a young man confident beyond his years, a person always willing to extend himself to others with a constant smile on his face. Andrew’s smile was bright, entirely happy, warm and inviting, with just a hint of mischief at the edges.

He is survived by his parents, Paul and Lisa, his brothers Matthew, Eric, and Luke, his grandparents Paul and Loretto Berghoff, and Mary Dalton, and many aunts, uncles, cousins, and countless friends. He is preceded in death by his Grandpa Dick Dalton who is no doubt chuckling with him, telling stories right now.

A special thanks to the UCSF Fetal Treatment Center and Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital PICU along with all their outstanding doctors, nurses, and care providers who tended to Andrew’s every need. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to either of these fine institutions at:

• https://makeagift.ucsf.edu/andrew-berghoff
• http://foundation.luriechildrens.org/goto/AndrewBerghoff