Journal & Topics Media Group

Bitter Cold A Factor In Glenview Woman’s Death


Glenview Police Station, 2500 East Lake Ave.

Last month’s record bitter cold appears to have been a factor in the death of a Glenview woman.

Adair Gerstein, 72, of the 3900 block of Lizette Lane died Friday, Feb. 1 after falling in the snow Wednesday, Jan. 30, outside her home while walking her dog. According to police, family members said they thought she remained outside for an estimated 30 minutes before paramedics were called.

Temperatures outside during the cold snap Jan. 29-31 saw air temperatures drop to nearly 25 degrees below zero with wind chills making it feel like 50 below zero.

Glenview Police Cmdr. Dave Sostak said police and paramedics responded to the home after family found Gerstein outside the home at 8:46 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 30. Sostak said she was rushed to Glenbrook Hospital while suffering cold exposure symptoms, treated and released Thursday, Jan. 31.

Family members reportedly found her unresponsive at 7:30 a.m. Friday, Feb. 1 in the living room of the home. Glenview paramedics and police responded to the home. Doctors were consulted at Glenbrook Hospital, Sostak said. The medical examiner’s office put the time of death at 7:44 a.m. Friday, Feb. 1.

After an autopsy last week, the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office ruled the death an accident from “complications of hypothermia due to cold exposure with hypertensive cardiovascular disease, obesity, diabetes mellitus and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease as contributing factors.”

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