Joe Partacz was coaching at a youth baseball travel tournament in late June when he received the shocking news of the sudden death of his friend and fellow coach, Ares Roper, 42.
Partacz, league commissioner for the Tinley Park Bulldogs, had coached alongside Roper for years with both the Bulldogs and the Tinley Park Bobcats. Roper had been a baseball mainstay, coaching for 10 years. His unexpected passing deeply affected the community, which has since honored him with jerseys, a memorial, home-cooked meals for his family, a fundraiser, and more.
Since June, Partacz has also been working on another way to pay tribute to Roper — by acquiring automated external defibrillators (AEDs) for the league. An AED is a portable device that can be used by the public to treat someone experiencing sudden cardiac arrest by delivering an electrical shock to restart the heart.
“The more I thought about the incident, the more I wanted to make sure the league exhausted all avenues of safety on the field,” Partacz said. While safety is a top priority for both the league and the local park district, there were no AEDs present on the field that day due to several logistical reasons.
“I just felt that even though maybe it wouldn’t have made a difference—maybe what was wrong with Mr. Roper was too far gone to begin with, and there wasn’t much anybody could have done—at least this could have given us a fighting chance,” he explained. “The fact that we didn’t have it, it was like… I just wanted to see what I could do and try to exhaust all avenues to see if we could get one of these.”
Partacz reached out to the village and the Park District. On October 21, the Village of Tinley Park donated two AEDs in Roper’s memory to the teams — one for the Bobcats and another for the Wildcats — totaling $42,000. The funds were pulled from the fire and medical budget, according to Village Manager Pat Carr.
The donation means a great deal to the community. Roper had strong ties to players, parents, Park District staff, and most of the Tinley Park Bulldogs Athletic Club. As the community has come together in grief, a common sentiment has been that Roper was not only “a loving father and a good husband, but just a kind overall good man.”
“The AEDs mean a lot to us. It just goes to show that here in Tinley, even though you may not know your neighbor, you look out for one another,” Partacz said.
Tinley Mayor Michael Glotz emphasized the village’s commitment to the youth. “Having had children play in both organizations, we understand their importance,” Glotz said. “When these exceptional groups reached out for assistance, we were quick to respond. Our commitment is to always prioritize children, coaches, fans, and Tinley Park.”
Partacz stressed the importance of having AEDs, especially given the diverse participants in the league — from young children to parents and grandparents. “This could happen to any one of them. To know our complex has this, even if just to give our kids a fighting chance—that’s what I want. I know the Bobcats want the same thing,” he added.
Joe Leigh, vice president of the Tinley Park Bobcats, a non-profit, volunteer-run youth sports organization, said participant safety is paramount — with fun coming first and winning second.
“If there’s any way to mitigate something like this from ever happening again, we’re all in,” Leigh said.
Roper’s death deeply affected the entire league. Many people showed up to the memorial or brought meals to his family, reflecting how much the community cared. Roper coached several teams that advanced together through age groups, a testament to his character and the players’ desire to stick with him.
The league honored Roper with customized jerseys. A 13-and-under travel softball team also placed “LLA,” meaning Long Live Ares, on the back of their helmets.
“The whole organization felt it. It feels like, at some point, everyone knows a Roper,” Leigh said. “It was heartbreaking.”
Leigh and Partacz said the next steps involve training people to use the AEDs, determining where to store them, and coordinating with the Park District.
Partacz plans to become board certified and hopes to keep an AED in the concession stand, accessible to board members. Leigh noted that their league covers multiple sports and travels frequently, so they are still working on where to station the AEDs. They aim to have a plan in place by March, when the spring season begins.
Patrick Coyne, treasurer for the Bobcats league, said, “It opens the door, but we need to put a plan in place. Again, it’s unfortunate that a tragedy is sparking these conversations, but there is something good to come — something good to bring the leaders of our organization and the Bulldogs together to think about this more long term.”
Shawn Robey, executive director of the Park District in Tinley Park, called Roper’s death devastating. He is eager to assist in implementing the AEDs but noted there are numerous regulatory requirements set by the Illinois Department of Public Health and other agencies in Cook County. These regulations make it difficult to implement AEDs overnight, as the district must comply with strict monitoring standards.
For example, AEDs stored outdoors face risks from heat, cold, theft, and must be checked regularly. The district can help train people to use AEDs, a service also offered by the village fire department.
“The Park District is always working to improve what we’re doing, which is why I’m very happy the organization was able to get this donation,” Robey said. “While I understand it’s a sensitive subject, it’s important that training reaches as many people as possible.”
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/05/tinley-park-bulldogs-aeds-ares-roper/