Beloved father, husband, brother and son passed away peacefully early Friday, March 8, 2013 at Cottage Hospital. Born in Santa Barbara, CA on April 1, 1964 to Carl Diehl and Gretchen Diehl, Eric was the younger brother to one sister, Karin (Diehl) Schnackenberg.
Eric was a gifted athlete and a stand-out volleyball player for San Marcos High School, where he was named California Player of the Year, his senior season. After graduation, he played at Santa Barbara City College, where his team proceeded to win their first ever (since) division title. Eric then went to work with his brother-in-law, Joel Schnackenberg, at The Chicago Board of Trade. In Chicago, he became a commodities trader and broker in the 10 yr futures pit. Working on the trading floor, he met his future wife, Heather Flatau Diehl. Eric and Heather were wed in Sep. of 2000 and their first child, Kyle August was born May, 2002.
In 2004, Eric relocated to Santa Barbara, CA with his family. In 2005, Eric and Heather were blessed with the arrival of twin daughters, Camille Ava and Danielle Emma.
Eric was a devoted father who loved to spend time with his family and friends. His sense of humor, big smile and magnetic personality brightened every room that he entered. This, combined with his great physical presence, an athletic 6’3″, with broad shoulders, blonde hair & blue eyes, Heather referred to him as her “Bond Room Babe. Therefore, when he returned home to Santa Barbara, he left many close friends from the trading floor, with whom he stayed in close contact with. He loved to recount crazy trading day stories and laugh at the frantic pace that became normal work days with these dear friends and colleagues.
Eric is survived by his wife, Heather and three children Kyle, Camille and Danielle; parents Carl and Gretchen Diehl; and his beloved only sibling, Karin. Her three children, His godson, Nephew J.R., neices Katie and Kristen (Shnackenberg). He is predeceased by his infant son, Dane, and brother-in-law Joel Schnackenberg.
A celebration of life is being planned for the near future, in lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to The Koegel Autism Center at UCSB, in recognition of his son, Kyle, and all the countless hours that Eric, and all parents, who have children with autism, work along side the devoted, tireless and gifted students and doctors that make this program such a blessing to our community.
UCSB Koegel Autism Center, Graduate school of Education, UC Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106-9490
