Eric Lee Hahn, 27, of Blacksburg, Va., passed away on October 14, 2022, in Roaring River State Park, Cassville, Missouri, from a technical cave diving accident at a depth of 190 ft.

Eric was a member of the KISS Rebreathers cave diving team. The team was filming a documentary and creating a 3D map and model of the cave system for the Roaring River State Park. The cave is believed to be the deepest underwater cave network and spring in North America.

Eric was born on July 3, 1995, in Charlottesville, Va. He attended Albemarle County Public schools and was a student in the MESA (Math, Engineering Science Academy) curriculum at Albemarle High School. He was selected for the Northrop Grumman WORTHY Engineering Program and was a member of F.I.R.S.T Robotics Team 619. He continued his education by pursuing a degree in Computer Engineering at Virginia Tech. While in school, he was employed as a software engineer for Torc Robotics, a company focused on self-driving technology.

Eric dedicated his life to saving others. Eric was a volunteer for the Blacksburg Volunteer Rescue Squad as a technical rescue member and an Advanced EMT. In his spare time, Eric enjoyed caving and scuba diving. He was the Vice President of the National Speleological Society’s VPI Cave Club and a member of the Scuba Club of Virginia Tech.

Eric is survived by his parents, Linda and Gordon; his siblings, Alexander, Dylan, and Heidi; grandparents, Elbert Dale and Erika Hahn; his uncles, Kelvin Dale (Davey), Mike (Suzanne), Ingold, Simeon (Loretta), and Nick (Sara -godparents) Hahn.

He was preceded in death by his paternal grandfather, Dr. Walter Hahn, and his maternal grandmother, Irene Dale.

In addition to many cousins, Eric has extended family in Australia, Germany, and Switzerland.

Two “Celebration of Life” memorials are planned, Sunday, October 30, 2022, at 1 p.m. at The Maroon Door, 418 N Main St., Blacksburg, VA 24060, and Sunday, November 6, 2022, 11 a.m. at The Center at Belvedere, 540 Belvedere Blvd., Charlottesville, VA 22901.

Please consider a donation to one of the following organizations in memory of Eric Hahn, VPI Cave Club, Please include: “In memory of Eric Hahn”, P.O. Box 558, Blacksburg, VA 24063, Venmo: @Al-Cartwright, Scuba Club of VA Tech, c/o Jackson Bonsall, 1430 Christine Court, Blacksburg, VA 24060, Venmo: @SCUBA_VT, Donations support compressor, fill station needs, and technical training, Virginia German Shepherd Rescue, VGSR, P.O. Box 733, Centreville, VA 20122 https://www.shepherdrescue.org/info/donate. This organization helps find permanent homes for dogs in need.

Submitted by MaryAnn Robertson.