Scientist known for ‘kindness and unwavering love’ mourned after Richland cycling death
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- PNNL scientist Eric Hill died after being struck while bicycling in Richland.
- Hill led a microbial lab, and developed new techniques to increase reliability
- Friends and colleagues remembered Hill's mentorship, faith and family devotion.
Friends and family are mourning the death of a local church leader and longtime microbiologist for his kindness and unwavering love of his family and community.
Eric Hill, 49, a father of eight and avid cyclist, died in a crash when he was hit from behind while riding on one of his frequent routes near the Duportail Bridge about 5:30 a.m. last Wednesday.
“Eric’s kindness and unwavering love for his family and community touched countless lives. He will be deeply missed by all who were blessed to know him,” wrote Bailey Moser, who organized a GoFundMe account to help his family.
Hill spent over 26 years at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Richland, including overseeing the Microbial Cell Dynamics Laboratory.
The lab was created by the Department of Energy to develop microbes to clean up ecosystems contaminated by radioactive waste.
“His unique skills and passion for engineering solutions to biological problems were the cornerstone of that lab and he even had patents for his innovations,” his group leader, Vanessa Bailey, told the Herald.
“Eric was a long-time colleague, a friend and an excellent scientist,” she said. “He leaves a big hole in our group and our community. I am missing him.”
Moser wrote that in addition to cycling, Hill loved racing cars, listening to music, dancing with his children and learning something new every day.
Hill was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served as a bishop of the Grandridge Ward in the Richland South Stake.
He was a self-described “product of the community college system,” earning his associate’s degree through Running Start, and was studying civil engineering when he left on a two-year LDS mission, according to his LinkedIn profile.
When he returned, he met his wife of 27 years, Kelly Hill, at a Halloween dance. They had eight children, ages 5 to 24, and a grandchild, according to the GoFundMe post.
While earning another associate’s degree in applied science from Columbia Basin College, he met a PNNL chemist and was offered an internship at the national lab.
One internship turned into four, and eventually, he was hired by PNNL after he received his bachelor’s in microbiology from Washington State University in Pullman.
He went on to get a master’s from WSU in environmental science.
Bailey, who started about the same time as Hill, told the Herald that many other scientists and students thrived in the environment he created.
His funeral service was Monday, Sept. 22.
South Richland fatal collision
No more information about the crash that killed Hill has been released by Richland police.
He was riding along one of his usual routes, heading south up the hill from the Duportail Bridge toward the Queensgate shopping district when he was struck by a car heading in the same direction. He died at the scene.
The driver of the small car stopped and called for help. The person was not impaired and not arrested, according to initial reports.
Richland police have not said if the driver was distracted or if the darkness of the hour contributed to the crash.
This story was originally published September 22, 2025 at 5:48 PM.