Obituary of Ian Patrick Crabill

On Saturday, March 4th, Ian Patrick Crabill took his own life in Boone, NC, at the age of 19. Ian was born on March 20th, 2003, and grew up in Hillsborough, NC. He was a student at Appalachian State University and was pursuing a degree in political science in order to out-debate his father. Ian never left the house without a medical kit. He was prepped and ready to administer first aid to his friends and family members in any hypothetical scenario you could imagine—splinters, cuts, stubbed toes, or a triage situation on the frontline of World War III. When asked why four tourniquets were necessary to bring on a trip to the grocery store, Ian would respond, "You have four limbs". Through the STOP THE BLEED program, Ian became certified by the American College of Surgeons as an immediate responder for a bleeding emergency. Through this program, he learned the skills necessary to identify life-threatening bleeding and administer basic trauma care while waiting for professional help. Ian's readiness for all manner of situations once allowed him to offer medical assistance to a young man involved in a car wreck. He wrapped the cut on the victim's arm while waiting for an ambulance, eliminating the need for any further treatment once first responders arrived on scene. Ian was also able to offer aid in the aftermath of Hurricane Florence. Along with a group of other Orange County volunteers, he traveled to the coast to distribute much-needed food and supplies to those in need. He was a sharp shooter and IDPA competitive shooter, placing second in accuracy during his first competition despite being the youngest participant. Ian engaged in penetration testing in order to help organizations identify weaknesses in their security systems and quell unauthorized hacking attempts. Ian's proficiency in ethical hacking eventually led him to begin setting up his own cybersecurity company. Even more impressively, this business was run almost entirely from the back of his math class. In the midst of the pandemic, Ian took a gap year from his tenure at Appalachian State to work as a winemaker, event coordinator, and caretaker at Blue Ridge Vineyard in the mountains of Virginia. He conducted wine tastings, facilitated wedding receptions, regularly mowed over 10 acres of land, and assisted with the bottling process. Ian was an actor in numerous independent short films with distribution in North Carolina and New York City. He was a life-long music lover and a musician himself, playing guitar and clarinet as well as piano and percussion. He was an enthusiast of the art of Francis Bacon and a reader of Bret Easton Ellis, Philip K. Dick, and Kurt Vonnegut. To be a friend of Ian's was to ensure that your life was never boring and that you would always have a sympathetic ear in times of need. He used his own experience with anxiety to help others who were struggling, whether they needed advice or just wanted to vent to someone who understood. Ian leaves behind his parents, Stacy and John Crabill; his sister and best friend, Madison Crabill; a whole host of extended family members and loving friends; and one of the largest collections of knives, tobacco pipes, and lighters in the Southeastern United States. Ian's friends and family members gathered at their home in Hillsborough on March 10th to pay tribute to his life. Save some of your condolences for the Zippo customer service team, many of whom may be laid off in the next few weeks now that there is no longer a need to field Ian's constant warranty and replacement questions. We love you Ian.