Lynn and Jeff Hollahan may never know exactly what happened to their son.
The body of UA alumnus Devon Hollahan was found in a river near Frankfurt, Germany, on Dec. 15, 2009, more than three weeks after he was last seen on Nov. 21. “”The police surmised that he fell into the river,”” Jeff Hollahan said.
Devon Hollahan, who’d moved to Prague in the summer to teach English, spent the evening of Nov. 21 with a friend at a concert in Frankfurt.
They were coming back from the concert when Devon Hollahan disappeared. Neither had been to Frankfurt before, so they walked through the city, probably looking to take a bus, but it was 3 a.m. so the public transportation was not in service, Jeff Hollahan said.
Devon Hollahan’s friend asked someone for directions, and when he turned around, Devon was gone.
Though Jeff Hollahan credits the authorities for handling this situation, he expressed dissatisfaction with the police’s reaction.
“”Some of the reports assume that Devon drunkenly walked into the river. But we’ve received calls that Devon was seen with three people that night. He could have stumbled or been pushed,”” Jeff Hollahan said.
“”Drunk people don’t just wander into freeways or off buildings. We find this idea wrong. He may have been the victim of a crime,”” Jeff Hollahan added.
UA alumna Jennifer Dominguez remembers Devon Hollahan as an entertaining, humorous addition to the Eller College of Management’s London Internship Program in summer 2008.
UA alumnus Brian Malkin, who also participated in the London Internship Program with Devon Hollahan, remembers him as a “”very charismatic, heartwarming guy who cared so much about his friends and family. He had a great sense of style, attitude, swagger; he was truly one of a kind.””
Devon Hollahan, known by some of the London Internship Program members as the “”iPod guy,”” had a music library of around 30,000 songs and had a diverse taste in music, Malkin said.
“”His favorite song during our internship experience was MIA’s ‘Paper Planes,’ which was the song we’d sing together at the end of every night out,”” Malkin said.
The London Internship Program participants have grown closer and come together in light of this event, Malkin added.
“”He was the life of our London group. We loved his personality and great sense of humor. He always kept us laughing. I was so blessed to have known him and will miss him very much,”” Dominguez said.
Some of Jeff Hollahan’s co-workers heard about Devon Hollahan’s disappearance and said they didn’t want their children to study or travel abroad.
“”That’s the wrong answer,”” Jeff Hollahan said. “”Sometimes bad things happen to good people, and it can happen in Scottsdale, Tokyo, Frankfurt, anywhere.””
Jeff Hollahan describes his family as well-traveled and as “”adventure travelers”” rather than tourists.
When asked if he would allow his younger daughter Kelsey Hollahan to travel in light of this event, Jeff Hollahan answered, “”in a heartbeat.””
Arizona Central reported on Dec. 31, 2009, that the Hollahans passed on celebrating the holiday season so they could reflect on what happened to Devon Hollahan. The family expressed gratitude for the outpouring of support and sympathy it has received.
“”It’s tough to lose a child, but we are comforted by the positive impact he had on people,”” Jeff Hollahan said.
“”At the end of the day, he was having the time of his life, and as a parent, that’s all you can ask for.””
