Loss of Frankfort native hits hard
Crash claims the life of Zac Plantz, policy adviser to Lipinski
A young life of tremendous potential and goodness ended far too soon in a traffic crash early on Thanks giving Day.
Frankfort native Zachary Plantz, 27, of Chicago, was an energetic and thoughtful person who cared about the well-being of others more than himself, loved ones said.
“Hewas one person whowas going to maybe change the world,” said his uncle, Craig Zoberis. “Zac made everyone feel special. It’s an incredible loss not just to our family, but for the world, to lose someone like him.”
Plantz was the sole occupant of a Mercedes that collided with the rear of a semitruck about 2 a.m. Nov. 26 on U.S. 41 in Naples, Florida, according to news reports.
Hewas a senior policy adviser for out going U.S. Rep. Dan Lipinski, D-Western Springs, and managed Lipinski’s primary campaign against the incoming 3rd District representative, Marie Newman of La Grange.
“Theworld has lost an incred--
ible young man whose life was tragically cut too short,” Lipinski said in a social media post. “Hewas a proud Notre Dame graduate who had a contagious energy about him that lifted up those who interacted with him.”
Plantz’s two brothers, Tyler and Logan, earned walk-on roles on the University of Notre Dame football team. Tyler Plantz is an assistant director of football operations for the team and works closely with offensive coordinator Tommy Rees.
The undefeated Fighting Irish, who are contending for a national championship, ran a touchdown play in honor of Plantz during Friday’s 31-17 victory over the University of North Carolina. The Irish lined up on the goal line in a “14 personnel” formation, which is a setup with four tight ends, no wide receivers and one running back. Kyren Williams scored on a 1-yard run.
During a postgame news conference, Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly said the team prayed together for the Plantz family after the game.
“It was devastating to everybody that is a part of this football family,” Kelly said, according to a report by WNDU-TV in South Bend, Indiana.
Plantz’s father, Ron Plantz, also played football for Notre Dame. He started three NFL games at center for the Indianapolis Colts in 1987. Ron Plantz founded Authorized Acquisitions, a medical equipment supply company now known as AA Medical Store.
Ron Plantz is president and Logan Plantz is director of business development for the company, which is based in Mokena and has a branch in Miami, Florida.
“Our thoughts and prayers go out to Zac’s family, friends, and all those that Zac impacted with his big heart, caring nature, and bright smile,” the company said in a social media post.
The three Plantz brothers were standout student-athletes at Providence Catholic High School in New Lenox.
As a senior, Tyler Plantz was a middle linebacker and captain of a team that won the 6A state championship in 2009. Zac was a junior that year and played outside linebacker. Zac became a team captain his senior
year, said the Rev. John Merkelis, Providence president.
“We are heartbroken,” Merkelis said Tuesday. People have been praying for the family at a grotto on campus, where a football helmet and photograph of Zac wearing his No. 6 Providence jersey were placed in front of a statue of the Virgin Mary.
“Hewas so gifted. He had a great personality,” Merkelis said. Plantz was an Illinois State Scholar and member of the National Honor Society, he said. “Hewas a Kairos leader, which meant his faith and spirituality meant a lot to him.”
The Providence community was shocked by the sudden loss of such of bright and faithful young man, Merkelis said.
“When I heard about it, Iwas stunned and everybody I have talked to has just been terribly, deeply saddened by his loss,” he said. “The Plantz family is part of the Providence family. We share their grief and promise our prayers.”
Plantz earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration and information technology management from Notre Dame in 2015, according to a resume publicly shared on a LinkedIn account. In 2010, he worked as an executive assistant to Zoberis, founder and president of Burr Ridge-based Fusion OEM, a contract manufacturer of light industrial equipment.
Plantz was an intern and salesman for Authorized Acquisitions and for three years after college worked as a technology consultant at the Chicago office of Protiviti, a global consulting firm. He lived in an apartment in
Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood.
He ventured into politics and spent a year as a deputy campaign director and fieldwork coordinator for the Chicago mayoral campaign of attorney Jerry Joyce, who pulled 7.2% of the first-round vote in February 2019. He thenworked as a volunteer coordinator for Lori Lightfoot’s campaign.
He began working for Lipinski’s campaign in June 2019.
“I quickly learned what a gifted young man hewas and made himmy campaign manager,” Lipinski wrote on social media. “Hewas smart, thoughtful, respectful, and charismatic. Talking to Zac always brightened your day.”
After the campaign, Lipinski hired Plantz as a senior policy adviser. He was passionate about bringing people together and cared about serving constituents, Lipinski wrote.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with his parents Ron and Laura, his siblings Logan, Tyler, and Abby, his girlfriend Kathleen, and all of Zac’s family and friends during this this difficult time,” Lipinski wrote.
Plantz played rugby at Notre Dame, where he became active in charitable causes. Each November for the past six years, he participated in a Movember Foundation event by growing a mustache and raising money and awareness about men’s health issues.
This year, Plantz had pledged to run 60 miles and raise $1,000 for suicide prevention during November.
“The rate of suicide and mental illness is alarmingly high, particularly in men,” Plantz wrote in a public post about his fundraiser. “Too many men are ‘toughing it out,’ keeping their feelings to themselves and struggling in silence.”
As November progressed, Plantz raised about $1,000 and announced hewas doubling his goal, to $2,000 by month’s end. In recent days, the University of Notre Dame Rugby Football Club& Alumni team of the Movember Foundation had promoted Plantz’s fundraiser. As of Tuesday afternoon, more than 1,800 people had contributed more than $103,000 in honor of Plantz.