Be Kind. Love Hard. Remember': Husband's Heartbreaking Message After His Wife Dies in Tragic Accident

Accomplished Chicago theater actress Molly Glynn, who also played a recurring role as a doctor on the TV series "Chicago Fire," died after a tree fell and struck her during a storm. She was 46.

Molly Glynn (Image source: Facebook)

Glynn was bicycle riding with her husband, fellow actor Joe Foust, on Friday afternoon in Erickson Woods Forest Preserve in suburban Northfield, WBBM-TV said. Soon they were caught in a fast-moving storm, the Chicago Tribune reported, citing a Facebook post from Foust.

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Glynn, who was riding behind Foust, yelled that the two should take cover. A split second later, Foust said he heard a loud crack and saw a tree fall down behind him in the rear-view mirror of his bicycle. One of the branches hit Foust's back, but he said he is doing fine.

He said Glynn wore a helmet.

Foust said it took the forest preserve police about 20 minutes before they found them. He said he tried calling 911 several times before he could get through, likely because of weather.

He said he believed a strong wind was responsible for uprooting the tree that killed his wife.

"It was harsh and quick," said Foust, who had been married to Glynn for about four years, the Tribune reported.

Glynn died at Evanston Hospital about 18 hours after the accident, WBBM reported, citing a hospital representative.

"I couldn't save her," Foust noted in a Facebook post, noting it was "the darkest day" of his life and that "(t)hings will never be the same."

On Sunday Foust posted a poignant note on Facebook along with a photo of him wearing his and Glynn's wedding rings:

Joe Foust (Image source: Facebook)

"Preparing to say final goodbye before she goes off to surgery to donate her organs," Foust wrote. "I know it's just a shell now, but I've grown used to the comfort of her body here in this room. Be kind. Love hard. Remember."

The executive director of First Folio Theatre and a family friend, David Rice, said Sunday that Glynn was "loving and generous" and an "incredibly talented" actress.

The artistic director of the Glencoe-based Writers Theatre, Michael Halberstam, calls Glynn's death "an incalculable loss."

Glynn leaves behind two teenage boys, Chance, 17, and Declan, 13, the Tribune reported, citing Foust.

The following report on the accident aired via WBBM before Glynn died. While the on-air reporter says the victim is 45, the text of the WBBM story identifies Glynn as 46, as does the AP and the Tribune.

This story has been updated.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.