Actress Molly Glynn Dies After Being Struck By Falling Tree

UPDATE: 9/6/2014 4:31 p.m.

(CBS) –  The violent storms that hit Chicago's north suburbs Friday have claimed a life.

Veteran Chicago stage and television actress Molly Glynn died Saturday of the injuries she sustained when a tree fell on her in the Erickson Woods Forest Preserve, in suburban Northfield.

Husband and fellow actor Joe Foust was bicycling with her when the tree fell, about 3:45 p.m. Friday a half mile north of Willow Road on the path, which winds through the Skokie Lagoons. He laments on Facebook, "I couldn't save her," calls it "the darkest day" of his life and writes, "Things will never be the same." As for2 p.m. Saturday, more than 1,100 people had left messages of condolence and support.

Glynn was 46. On television she had roles on the series "Chicago Fire," "Boss" and "Early Edition." But she was a regular on the Chicago theatre scene, with at least 17 roles since 2005 for such companies as Steppenwolf, Chicago Shakespeare, Next, Northlight and Writers Theatre, where she was most recently in the cast of the national premiere of "The Dance of Death."

"Molly was a marvelous actress and a completely warm hearted and generous human being. She had grace, sophistication and a sparkling, sexy, sassy stage presence," said Michael Halberstam, Writers Theatre artistic director. "She could transform from a princess to a flower girl in the twinkling of an eye. She was a loving mother and wife and everyone who met her fell in love with her. It is an incalculable loss to the Chicago theatre community, particularly as she was in the process of emerging as one of the city's major players. She possessed a rare combination of talent, heart and beauty in all aspects of her life."

Northfield Assistant Fire Chief Tom Burke said that the bicycle path was too narrow to accommodate the fire truck and ambulance dispatched to treat her, and that paramedics had to hike in the half mile to treat her. A spokesperson said that she died at Evanston Hospital some 18 hours after the accident.

Cook County Forest Preserve Police are investigating.