A University of Calgary student died of natural causes this past week.
Eric Lahoda, an avid skiing enthusiast passed away after experiencing cardiac arrest Wed., Jan. 2 at the end of a full day of skiing at Lake Louise. He was airlifted to a Calgary hospital where he remained in a coma for nine days.
Friends of the 22-year-old described him as always cheerful and a dedicated friend. Ski Club president Josh Brydges worked with Lahoda for several years.
“He always had time to stop and talk, even if there was a midterm he had to write in five minutes he’d stop and talk for 10,” he said.
Lahoda had been Ski Club president for three years before passing the reins–he was going to begin his last term. Cody Spierendurg was a Ski Club member and friend.
“He was supposed to graduate this year,” said Spierendurg. “He was going to start a company, a bike tour company.”
Lahoda was the eldest brother in a family of five boys. His brother, Steve, stressed Eric’s love for the outdoors.
“He was always out there, always skiing, and if not skiing, mountain biking,” he said. “He just loved being out there.”
Brydges was consoled by the knowledge that Eric had lived the way he wanted to.
“It’s sort of a comfort for most of us that knew him that he went out with his ski boots on,” said Brydges. “His big passion was being out in the mountains and skiing.”
Another friend and president of the Food and Wine Club Ryan MacLean said he will miss seeing Eric around the university. Eric worked several jobs on campus–including the Den, Black Lounge, and MacEwan Student Centre Conference Services–along with his dedicated club participation.
“I met Eric planning a Value Village formal,” said MacLean. “That was always his dream, to have a big formal party in the style of retro ’70s and ’80s. [We had one but,] it wasn’t here, it was a smaller thing. So it didn’t come to fruition.”
The Ski Club and Food and Wine Club will continue Eric’s legacy hosting a retro formal cab at the Den Sat., Feb. with proceeds going to a charity yet to be determined.
“He lived for the moment,” said MacLean. “We can learn from that. To make sure that we’re happy now and kind of spread that around because you never know about these things.”
A wake will be held at That Empty Space Thu., Jan. 17 from 4-6 p.m. His funeral is at the Corpus Christi Catholic Church Fri., Jan 18 at 1 p.m. All are invited to attend.