Memphis pathologist Ted Strom died in a boat fire Monday near the California coast that authorities believe killed 34.

Strom, 62, was among the nine victims whose names were released by the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office on Friday, reported the Ventura County Star.

Strom, of Germantown, was an associate professor at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center and a staff physician at the Memphis Veterans Affairs Medical Center, according to his LinkedIn profile page.

The Memphis VA confirmed his death Friday.

"The leadership and staff of the Memphis Veterans Affairs Medical Center are deeply saddened by the loss of Dr. Ted Strom," the VA said in a statement. "His exceptional service to veterans as a staff physician is a testament to the type person that he was. Our thoughts and prayers remain with his family during this time. He will certainly be missed."

Strom began working at the Memphis VA in 2009.

The Strom family released a statement Friday through a public relations firm.

"On behalf of the Strom family, we wanted to share that Dr. Ted Strom died this past weekend in the boat fire during a scuba diving exhibition off the coast of Southern California," the statement read. "The Strom family wants everyone to know that he passed in a place he cherished while doing something he loved. During this very difficult time, the family requests complete privacy."

Strom was involved in hematopathology and transfusion medicine at the VA’s pathology and laboratory medicine service, a subject he taught students and pathology residents, per his LinkedIn. He also held a research fellowship at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Authorities said Tuesday all 33 passengers and a crew member are assumed to be dead after the fire, USA TODAY reported. The Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office said all the victims are believed to have died of smoke inhalation, according to the Ventura County Star.

The passengers and crew were on a recreational scuba diving trip. Officials have yet to release the cause of the fire.

Max Garland covers FedEx, logistics and health care for The Commercial Appeal. Reach him at max.garland@commercialappeal.com or 901-529-2651 and on Twitter @MaxGarlandTypes.