Chris Trimper, a member of an historic family in the amusement rides business, has died of a severe allergic reaction.
Trimper, 42, of Trimper’s Rides and Amusement in Ocean City, Maryland, died of anaphylaxis related to a shellfish allergy on Oct. 24. The father of three young children was at a pub dinner following a charity golf tournament when he suffered the reaction.
News reports say Trimper had “a major seizure” related to a shellfish allergy and that he later died in hospital.
“It was a shock to everyone,” said Mary Ann Manganello, director of the local downtown association which had organized the tournament. She told Ocean City Today: “He was a wonderful member of the community and everyone will miss him.”
Condolences are pouring in on social media for the man whose family has been in the amusement park business for generations, dating back to 1890. Trimper’s Rides and Amusement is the longest-running family-owned amusement park in the United States. It’s famous for Ocean City Boardwalk attractions such as the iconic antique carousel and haunted house.
In addition to working in the family business, Chris Trimper was a past president of the Ocean City Hotel-Motel Restaurant Association. The OCHMRA issued a statement passing along the tragic news “with great sadness.” The association said that at dinner, Trimper “went into anaphylactic shock from which his body could not recover.”
The statement said: “It will be a shock to everyone. He was such a big part of the community.”
A tribute to Trimper was posted on the Trimper Rides Facebook page. It reads: “You made us proud, you touched many lives. So little time together, yet you will live in our hearts forever.”
Read more here: Do Antacids or Alcohol Trigger Shellfish Allergy in Adults?
