Library emeritus faculty dies while hiking Oct. 10

Library emeritus professor Joseph Kohut died on Oct.10 due to head injuries sustained from falling off a trail along the Columbia Gorge.

Kohut was hiking along the Gorge trail with his dog when he fell about 100 feet off a cliff near the top of Triple Falls. Jeremiah Lafor, a volunteer firefighter, was hiking in the area when he came across Kohut’s dog sitting at the top of the falls looking down over the cliff at an unmoving Kohut below.

According to KGW, a rescue team was close by on response to another emergency. The team of 12 hiked up to provide immediate aid to Kohut, but rescuers were unable to save the 70-year-old professor.

Kohut’s dog was later taken by rescuers to the Troutdale animal shelter, where it was picked up by relatives of Kohut.