The 40-year-old man fell to his death while canyoneering in Utah’s Zion National Park has been identified as tech CEO Justin Bingham.
The software company Opiniion, where Bingham served as CEO, announced his death in a press release on Oct. 7.
“Justin was involved in a tragic accident while enjoying one of his greatest passions — exploring the outdoors. Despite the best efforts of over 50 team members of various rescue teams, he passed away on the night of Saturday, Oct 5, 2024,” the company wrote in a statement, revealing that he died just three days before his birthday.
“Justin was a visionary who believed in the power of genuine connections, both with our clients and within our team,” the company continued. “His commitment to building meaningful relationships made a lasting impact on everyone who had the privilege of knowing him. Justin’s spirit of adventure and dedication to living life fully will be deeply missed.”
The National Park Service (NPS) previously announced the news in a press release, writing that Bingham was canyoneering with three other friends near the exit of Heaps Canyon when he accidentally fell and died.
“Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with the family and friends during this unimaginably difficult time,” Zion National Park Superintendent Jeff Bradybaugh said.
According to his family’s blog, Bingham and his wife Lindsay are parents to four children.
Their family blog is called “Our Life in Holland” — although they live in Utah — and is filled with content about their lives and traveling on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook, where the family has thousands of followers. Much of the family’s content also follows their son Landon’s treatment for cerebral palsy.
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In Opiniion’s statement, the company’s co-founder and COO Devin Shurtleff, remembered Bingham for his personality and passions.
“If you spent any time around him, he was the eternal optimist. ‘Everything is always going to work out,’ he told me so many times…. But he was right and it usually did,” Shurtleff said. “Justin wasn’t just a leader here at Opiniion — he was a mentor, a dad, and a friend to many of us. He believed that the relationships we build are what make this work meaningful, and he truly lived that every day.”
“We kindly ask for privacy and understanding for Justin’s family during this difficult time,” the company statement concluded. “We are committed to ensuring that Justin’s legacy lives on through the work we do and the relationships we continue to build.”
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