Sophomore aeronautics major Christopher Erdovegi was killed Friday when a plane he was in collided with another small plane in Rootstown Township, approximately 20 miles east of the Akron-Canton Airport.

Erdovegi died doing something he loved, said his friend Michael Dmytryk, sophomore accounting major.

Erdovegi was one of four men who died in the crash. He and Alan Lyons, 38, of Shreve, were flying in a Cessna 172 L model. Mark Schaden, 36, of Middlefield; and John Plavcan, 55, of Newbury; were flying a Lancair 235, according to an Ohio State Highway Patrol press release. The crash occurred at 2:06 p.m. Friday near the intersection of Tallmadge Road and Industry Road.

The cause of the crash is still unknown, according to The Associated Press.

“It is a tragedy for everyone,” said his father, John Erdovegi.

He remembers his son as driven and hardworking, doing things a step at a time to reach his goals.

“He was driven, definitely, by his passion and his career,” John Erdovegi said. “He could carry amazing loads.”

His son, an only child, kept his GPA above a 3.0, played hockey, was an Eagle Scout and worked at Marc’s in Rocky River.

Erdovegi was generous, genuine and funny, always making people laugh and helping out others, Dmytryk said.

Sophomore history major Kevin Bobula echoed Dmytryk’s thoughts.

“He’d always be there to help out,” he said. “He was definitely not the type of person who deserves such a fate.”

Visiting hours are from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday at Busch Funeral Home and Remembrance Center at 15800 Detroit Ave. in Lakewood. Church services will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. James Parish Catholic church at 17514 Detroit Ave. in Lakewood, Erdovegi’s father said.

Bobula and several others are looking into the possibility of getting a memorial built for their friend.

Erdovegi was taking flying lessons at a flight academy in Akron and was training with his flight instructor on Friday, his father said. The father and son attended air shows together every year, and he said he doesn’t regret his son’s choice of career.

“It is not more dangerous than anything else,” John Erdovegi said. “Allow your kids to pursue their dreams. At least he was happy.”

Contact news correspondent Jessica Rothschuh at [email protected].