David Hahn wore a Stanford jacket and baseball cap, rarely missed a football game, and even named his cat Stanford. A fixture in the stadium, he’d stick around after games to give out high-fives for a win or console Cardinal fans after a loss. And he wasn’t even an alum.
Hahn, known to many as Super Dave, died September 16 near his home at an assisted living facility in Palo Alto. He was 35. A graduate of Palo Alto High School, he worked at the Florence Moore dining hall. Hahn had Williams Syndrome, a condition that officials believe contributed to his death. Among the symptoms of Williams Syndrome is excessive friendliness. A relative wrote, “He loved everyone, he judged no one, he was not on the lookout for ulterior motives.”
Hahn’s death hit many in the Stanford community hard, particularly members of the Band. Hahn had attended nearly every Band rehearsal since 1996: he was thanked on the past three Band albums, and the group played on his 30th birthday. A drummer and emcee, Hahn sometimes filled in at games and even recorded a rap album with the band a few years ago. The Fans of Super Dave Facebook group described their loss: “Dave was the most genuinely friendly person to ever touch Palo Alto and the Stanford community, and he will be sorely missed. . . . We are richer for having known him.”
Survivors: his parents, Michael and Susan Hahn; and a sister, Laurie Hahn Tapper.
