Tributes pour in after a retired Palm Springs High teacher unexpectedly passed hiking in Palm Springs

Tributes pour in after a retired Palm Springs High teacher unexpectedly passed hiking in Palm Springs. "He loves to hike," says Doug Stevens, a Palm Springs Mounted Search and Rescue rescue coordinator. "That was his passion. "Everyone loved Andy."

Doug Stevens shows me the trail he had to hike to recover his friend, Andy Hollinger.

Hollinger's father was one of the founding members of this group. 

Stevens describes the unexpected call. "They mentioned his name, Andy Hollinger, and I say, oh, did he call it in," says Stevens. "Is he with him? He goes, no, it's him. And it was a shock. It was kind of just got numb." Stevens says Hollinger was found about 20 minutes up the mountain from the Museum Trail entrance.

Folks at Palm Springs High School couldn't believe the news. Hollinger was a retired teacher and coach who enjoyed sporting activities. Principal Michael Ventura describes Hollinger's presence. "He came in with a smile, and so many people were glad to see him and would come up to him and, you know, hug him," says Ventura. "Andy is going to be inducted into the Palm Springs High School Athletic Hall of Fame. This was decided even before his passing."

Joy Meredith is a friend of Hollinger. She reflects on his passing. "I know that he was doing something that he loved, but at the same time, I'm sure he'd rather still be here than to have lost his life there," says Meredith.