Clarendon Hills family keeps son’s memory alive with friend’s help

Pioneer Local | Chuck Fieldman
Rob (from left), Carley and Lori Chana, and Erik Tofte hold up the banner Tofte carried with him while serving overseas in Janary-October. | Chuck Fieldmanâ€"Sun-Times Media

CLARENDON HILLS â€" The Chana family always is happy to see Erik Tofte, a close friend to Cameron Chana, who was killed in a 2009 bus accident near Eastern Illinois University in Charleston. He was 22 years old.

Cameron was the oldest child of Rob and Lori Chana, whose other children are Christopher, 22; Cole, 20; and Carley, 15. As an organ and tissue donor, the 2005 Hinsdale Central graduate helped save the lives of five people who received his organs and the sight of someone who received his corneas.

Tofte, who has remained very close with the Chana family, carried a “Donate Life” banner in support or organ and ittue donation through the Middle East and Africa this year. He put together a scrapbook of photos of the banner in different locations, and presented both the album and the banner to the Chanas on Sunday.

“I did it because of the kind of person Cameron was,” Tofte said. “He was the most sincere and genuine person I’ve known. He was the nicest guy you could meet. And his family is probably the most loving family you could know.
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