U of I official’s son dies snowboarding

CHAMPAIGN — The son of a well-known University of Illinois administrator has died after an apparent snowboarding accident in Colorado.

Loryn Kasten of the Steamboat Ski Area told The News-Gazette in Champaign that 32-year-old Aaron Easter died Tuesday from injuries suffered at the ski area. Easter is the son of longtime University of Illinois administrator and professor Robert Easter. Robert Easter was interim chancellor of the Urbana-Champaign campus from 2009 through mid-2011.

Kasten says other skiers found Aaron Easter injured Monday in an area that had been marked as hazardous. Kasten says Easter died at a Denver hospital.

A university official says Aaron Easter’s family flew to Denver on Monday to be with him. The official says Aaron Easter lived in Colorado.

The Steamboat Springs Police Department is investigating.