By Stefano Esposito, Annie Sweeney and Steve Metsch
Chicago Sun Times

PEOTONE, Ill. — Ron Battiato adored his family — and he wasn't afraid to show it.

The Peotone paramedic stored photos of his kids on his cell phone, and he sometimes kissed the snapshots in front of his co-workers .

"He was a great guy, and he loved his family," said Lonnie Williams, a paramedic who worked with Battiato in 2007.

Williams remembered Battiato as a man with a "Type A" personality who had seen just about everything during his 20 years as a firefighter and paramedic.

"When things got rough, he was right there," Williams said. "He taught me a lot — and I've been doing this longer than him."

Battiato started with the Air Angels in January. His family said he became a firefighter and paramedic out of a desire to help others.

Battiato was working both for the Air Angels and the South Chicago Heights Fire Department.

"Ron was a good guy," said South Chicago Heights Assistant Fire Chief Larry Nardoni. "He was a good family man. . . . He had a lot of life experiences. He was always willing to help the younger firefighters."

On Thursday, as friends streamed through the front door of Battiato's home, his young son Ronnie called him "a hero to everyone," the family said.