James Tyree’s death ruled accident from air embolism, autopsy shows
By TINA SFONDELES AND DAVID ROEDER Staff Reporters March 18, 2011 3:00PM
Updated: August 4, 2011 4:20PM
The Cook County medical examiner’s office said Friday that the death of James Tyree, chairman of the company that owns the Chicago Sun-Times, was an accident.
Tyree, 53, died Wednesday after suffering for months from stomach cancer.
But the medical examiner’s office said an autopsy Friday revealed that he died from an air embolism after a dialysis catheter removal. It called his death an accident.
Secondary causes of his death were listed as pneumonia and metastatic cancer of the stomach.
An air embolism is a condition caused by air bubbles in the bloodstream.
Tyree also was the chairman of Chicago-based Mesirow Financial, an investment bank.
He had been treated at University of Chicago Medical Center, where he was a member of its board. Tyree’s life was plagued by health problems but he overcame them repeatedly with what friends said was the same enthusiasm he brought to civic affairs.
The medical center issued a statement that was silent about the events surrounding Tyree’s death. It said its staff was “deeply saddened” by his passing and offered condolences to his family,
Tyree’s death stunned leaders in Chicago business and charitable circles. President Obama was among those who expressed his sorrow.
Richard Price, who was the No. 2 executive at Mesirow, said Tyree had been progressing and looking forward to a discharge after a three-week hospital stay. Tyree was being treated for metastatic stomach cancer complicated by pneumonia.
Price said he last saw Tyree about 2 p.m. Monday and that he was 100 percent alert and receiving visitors.
“We were discussing many substantial business issues in detail,” Price said.
But he said Tyree’s catheter was removed about 4 p.m. Monday “and that’s when the trouble started.” The medical examiner said Tyree died at 4:27 p.m. Wednesday.
Mesirow on Friday named Price, 63, Tyree’s successor as chairman and chief executive officer.
“This is not the job I wanted,” Price said. “I wanted to be working for Jim for the rest of my life.”
Price is part of an investment group Tyree formed to buy the Sun-Times and newspapers in the Chicago suburbs in the fall of 2009. The group purchased the papers out of bankruptcy, ensuring their continued publication.
Tyree was widely hailed for an investment that preserved Chicago’s status as a two-newspaper town.
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