Bryan Gene Pratt

Bryan Gene Pratt, age 51, beloved son of Daryl and Carole Pratt, passed away peacefully Friday, May 9, 2025, after a life-long courageous battle with FSH Muscular Dystrophy. He was born September 25, 1973, in Arlington Heights, IL.

While he was able to walk for about seven years, he used a power wheelchair for the rest of grade school, all of high school, and college. Being disabled did not prevent Bryan from excelling academically. He graduated number 12 in his class of over 500 students at Palatine High School and was named “Outstanding Senior in Math” and came in second as “Outstanding Senior in Science”. He went on to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Material Science and Engineering. He was also the editor of “Sigma Signs”, the annual publication by and for students with disabilities.

Shortly after graduating, Bryan went into respiratory arrest and became ventilator-dependent for the rest of his life. However, this did not stop Bryan. He wrote an autobiography, “Look Beyond This Cover”, which was published. Bryan, on his own, created a non-profit foundation, Disability Outreach Foundation, which promotes high school sports for disabled students. For 27 years, he lived with his parents with no major problems. He spent the last nine months in various hospitals.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents; Vernon and Marian (nee Brandenburg) Pratt and Leonard and Virginia (nee Biernacki) Mirock. Survivors include his parents, Daryl and Carole (nee Mirock) Pratt; sister Cheryl (Jeff) Fitch; uncles Richard Mirock, and Loren (Sandy) Pratt; nephews Andrew (Victoria) Fitch and Ryan (Adia) Fitch; and niece Carley Fitch.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to Disability Outreach Foundation, PO Box 771, Arlington Heights, IL 60006.