Elijah LaMontagne passed away unexpectedly in his home on March 27, 2025.

Elijah was born at home in Elgin, Illinois, on February 26, 1996. In 2002, his family moved to Marengo, IL. As a boy, Elijah dabbled in sports such as football and wrestling. He loved to draw. Along with colorful murals of gaming characters, he illustrated a "Family Food" menu for his siblings and created a comic book featuring a superhero, "Manly Man." Elijah was diagnosed with congenital cataracts, which presented learning challenges in his early years because treatment was delayed until his eyes reached adult size. His brother Jacob was impressed by his little brother's perseverance and ability in video gaming, despite his vision challenges. He recounts how Elijah played Gears of War so well that the developers suspected he cheated. He also recounts how young Elijah accomplished gaming achievements, unheard of for most players without sight issues. Elijah later competed in high school and college-level Smash Bros tournaments with characters such as "Link" and "Cloud."

 At 13, Elijah underwent a series of five eye surgeries to correct his vision. The surgeon discovered that Elijah's biological lenses had been severely occluded, rendering him more severely blind than previously thought. Elijah's new sight brought its own set of emotional challenges as he discovered new details about the world around him, including skin pores, fingerprints, starlight, and his mother's aging. Since childhood, Elijah battled other conditions that required difficult medications, and struggled with attention deficit and frustrating circumstances. Despite these challenges, Elijah adapted remarkably well.

 A little-known fact about Elijah is that he enjoyed being onstage. As a boy, Elijah performed in various productions, including The Music Man and Grease, along with his brother Abraham. As a teenager, he performed in several musicals at the historic Woodstock Opera House with resident companies TownSquare Players and the Woodstock Musical Theatre Company. His brothers each participated in some productions as well; however, Elijah remained involved in community theater throughout high school, while his brothers became more involved in their pursuits. Jacob won many accolades in art while Abraham became accomplished in Football and Wrestling.

 Elijah was a good singer, a willing dancer, and a real cut-up character onstage. Out of the many roles he played, perhaps his most beloved character was his version of Pee-Wee Herman in The Wedding Singer. Elijah's favorite role was as "COO COO," a singing and dancing CO2 molecule in the chemistry-based original musical comedy written by Susan Handelman and Janie Harrison. Elijah appeared with his brothers in the opening title scenes for the feature film, Thrill Ride, directed and written by Chris Parrish, shot in 2013-2014 in Woodstock and Chicago, starring Tim Kazurinsky, Kristen Johnston, and Lucas Jade Zimmerman. Elijah was credited in the film and on IMDb for his portrayal of the bellboy, as well as costume intern. Thrill Ride opened in theatres in 2016 and is currently available to watch for free on several streaming services.

 At 14 years old, Elijah worked with his mother at the Savage Fun Center for Barry Savage in Elgin, IL. He also worked as crew for various events with Savage Entertainment during the following weekends, summers, and school breaks as needed. He graduated from Marengo Community High School in 2014. After that, he attended McHenry County College in Crystal Lake, IL, and graduated from Kishwaukee College in Malta, IL, with an Associate of Arts. During his first few years of college, he lived at home with his mother in Marengo, then with his two brothers who were working on their Bachelor's degrees in DeKalb, IL. During this time, Elijah drove a school bus for the local DeKalb school district. At the same time, he was an officer in the Business Club and Phi Theta Kappa at Kishwaukee College.

 After getting his AA degree in 2019, Elijah moved to Fort Worth, TX, where his mother resided, to attend the University of Texas at Arlington. There, he served as a Student Ambassador, hosting events, fundraisers, and advising new students in the business department. While attending UTA, Elijah held prestigious distinctions in academic organizations as an officer in Beta Alpha Psi and the Accounting Society. Additionally, Elijah volunteered as a Tax Preparer for VITA and helped with wildlife exhibits for the Arlington Park District.

Elijah interned at Eclipse Entertainment in Fort Worth in accounting and office administration, as well as for the Regent Construction Group in Fort Worth in accounting. For the remainder of his time at UTA, Elijah continued to do occasional work for Eclipse Entertainment in a crew capacity, also performing in special events, such as a "Tuxedoed Escort," as "Maverick" from Top Gun, as a green "Army Guy" from Toy Story or as a stilt walker in the Texas State Fair. Yes, Elijah was a stilt walker.

 After graduating in 2021 with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Finance, Elijah moved to Benbrook, TX, a smaller village within the greater Fort Worth area. Elijah gained experience in staff accountant positions before advancing to Supervising Staff Accountant for the 7-Eleven corporation in Irving, TX. He was proud of his growth in his job and profession for his two years there, while he privately studied coding to enhance his work skills. He enjoyed friendships with coworkers and great working relationships with the officers in the financial department.

 In 2021, Elijah started training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at Genesis Ju Jitsu in River Oaks, TX, under the guidance of Coach Albert Hughes. He quickly took to the sport, learning both Gi and Nogi style grappling, and started competing while still a white belt. Elijah's dedication paid off, as he earned his blue belt in just seven months. His brother Abraham, who had started training a few years earlier, was a valuable training partner and source of support. The two brothers often attended BJJ open mats together, sharing a circle of friends and training facilities in the DFW area. His oldest brother, Jacob, noted that Elijah's BJJ training was a fulfillment of his childhood aspiration to "fight" like Paul Phoenix from the game Tekken.

 In 2022, brother Abraham moved to Austin, TX, to train under the guidance of John Danaher, Gordon Ryan, and Gary Tonen, eventually becoming a pro grappler. Elijah, still living in the DFW area, enjoyed frequent visits with Abe, who often included him in his training at ROKA and Renzo Gracie Austin, alongside the New Wave BJJ team in Austin. Elijah and Abraham inspired their mother, Betsy, at age 58, to start training at Alvarez BJJ in Arlington by May 2022. Elijah was the first to teach her his "half guard" technique, which she often employs in her grappling style. In December of 2024, Elijah was awarded his purple belt by Coach Hughes in Fort Worth.

 Elijah enjoyed competing at a high level, and with Abe's encouragement, eventually in advanced divisions against brown and black belts, winning accolades and developing notoriety and respect in the BJJ world. He was well-known for frequently competing in the DFW area, as well as Austin, Oklahoma City, Chicago, and Las Vegas, in open tournaments such as ADCC, IBJJF, AGF, JJWL, Otomi, Tap Cancer Out, Midwest Finishers, and NAGA. He also appeared on invitational fight cards and "superfights" for Enigma, Combat Sports, Fight2Win, PGF, BJJ World Championship, Vow BJJ, Thursday Night Fights at 10th Planet Austin, Friday Night Lights, Equinox, and others. Elijah described BJJ as "a virtuous sport," often posting about the personal benefits he gained from his training and competing.

 Elijah was a compassionate and socially conscious individual who cared deeply about politics and helping others. He also had a creative side, sharing his fashion sense and music tastes with loved ones. Elijah fostered and adopted cats from local shelters; his two kitties, Kazuya and Gabby, brought him immense joy. While he wasn't a prolific social media user, his Instagram account offered a glimpse into his passions, featuring photos and videos of his BJJ training, his cats, and time spent with friends and family. In his free time, Elijah enjoyed skateboarding, listening to music, and exploring new destinations with friends.

 Elijah was particularly close to his maternal aunts, Mickie-Mae and Shirldine-Kay, and his cousins, who were more like siblings to him and his brothers. Growing up, they shared a multitude of experiences that forged a strong bond between them. They enjoyed yearly holiday celebrations and family picnics while engaging in spirited games of bags, volleyball, and basketball. They also shared in the joys and misadventures of childhood, including babysitting, homeschool classes and fairs, climbing roofs, wandering through cornfields, sneaking out windows, home property damage, wrestling in the house, and joking about the worst home moving experiences in history. As they grew older, they continued to support and encourage each other, sharing secrets, offering career advice, and cheering each other on through life's ups and downs. Elijah's relationships with his cousins included open and honest conversations about life's challenges and triumphs.

 From a young age, Elijah and his two older brothers shared exceptionally strong bonds that lasted a lifetime. As the eldest, Jacob took on a mentorship role, teaching Elijah essential life skills like cooking and household management. Jacob fondly remembers teaching Elijah, six years his junior, how to prepare loaded baked potatoes and cook bacon. This early training laid the foundation for a lifelong pursuit of knowledge and personal growth. Jacob and Elijah regularly engaged in deep discussions on various topics, from philosophy to culture and current events. They enjoyed debating and challenging each other's perspectives, valuing the intellectual sparring and personal growth that came with it. Jacob admired Elijah's natural ability to persuade and argue his points, which kept him on his toes and pushed him to stay informed.

 In November 2024, Elijah visited Jacob and his family in Virginia, where they celebrated Thanksgiving together. Elijah was immediately smitten with his then 11-month-old nephew, Lawrence-Conquest, and spent hours playing with him and taking photos. This experience had a profound impact on Elijah, changing his perspective on family and his role as an uncle. He deeply admired his brother Jacob and cherished their close relationship, which was built on frequent phone calls, online gaming, and a deep emotional connection.

 Elijah had immense respect for his brother Abraham, who had been a source of encouragement and support in both his BJJ career and personal life. Elijah appreciated how their shared passion for BJJ brought them closer together, but their bond went far beyond the sport. They discussed everything from their struggles to their hopes and dreams, and Elijah valued Abraham's guidance and wisdom. Despite disagreements and external challenges, the brothers always found common ground and supported each other through hills and valleys. Their relationship was built on a deep foundation of trust, mutual respect, and a shared desire to grow and improve together.

 Elijah was a multifaceted individual. Initially, he came across as quiet and reserved, but as people got to know him, they discovered his warmth, intellect, and charm. Despite struggling with personal issues and worrying about their impact on his future, Elijah persevered and excelled in school, developed valuable work skills, and nurtured meaningful relationships. He had several close friendships, treating each friend as special and valued, whether at Genesis JJ or in other settings.

 In his final years, Elijah became increasingly devoted to helping others, sharing his time and emerging faith in God. He encouraged his mother regularly regarding her recovery and future work pursuits after a serious car accident, helping her financially when he could. His Christian faith deepened, and he expressed a desire to grow and develop it further. Elijah was humble and open about his mistakes and shortcomings, yet he didn't let them hold him back from sharing his care, forgiveness, and personal testimony with others. He returned to Central Bible Church in Fort Worth in 2024, seeking counseling and connecting with the community. As he grew in his faith, Elijah became more intentional about eliminating negative behaviors and attitudes, striving to live a more authentic and compassionate life.

On March 30, 2025, a memorial service was held at Genesis Jiu Jitsu, the gym where Elijah's BJJ journey began and where he had recently earned his purple belt. The service, which ran from noon to 4pm, drew over 300 people from the Texas BJJ community, other states, and Elijah's family, church, and friends. The event began with a two-hour open mat session, followed by a time for sharing stories and memories of Elijah. His awards and medals were on display, and many attendees shared how Elijah had impacted their lives through his laughter, encouragement, and faith.

Elijah's family members shared thoughts, poetry, and scripture. Pastor Ryan Raspberry spoke briefly about Elijah's profession of faith, offering a prayer for those touched by his life. In the days that followed, countless individuals reached out to Elijah's family, sharing more memories and stories. The outpouring of love and support was a testament to the profound impact Elijah had on the lives of those around him. During the memorial, several people brought up the same scripture that Elijah had shared with them. A few months before he died, Elijah had scrubbed mentions of his BJJ accolades and other profile topics from his Instagram, leaving only the aforementioned scriptures as his entire profile bio. This is his final word, for those of us he left behind:

Philippians 4:6-7 "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

We are encouraged knowing Elijah was not lost to us, because he is now with his savior.

September 20, 2025: Illinois Memorial Service.

An additional memorial service is scheduled for Saturday, September 20, 2025, in Woodstock, IL. Please send inquiries to wolfebets@yahoo.com for details. 

Elijah is survived by his mother, Betsy Wolfe; his brothers, Jacob (Courtney) Wolfe LaMontagne and Abraham LaMontagne; his father, Steven LaMontagne; aunts, Mickie-Mae (David) Johnson and Shirldine-Kay (Todd) Knoll; and uncles, Bill (Maggie) Wolfe and James (Irma) Wilson; his cousins, Matthew J, Christine, Brad, Timothy, Sherry, Vicki, Michelle, William, Matthew W, Brandon, Joshua, Jennifer, Amber, John, and Aaric. Elijah's nephew, Lawrence-Conquest, was especially dear to him.

 Elijah was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, James and Betty Wilson, and G. Bill Wolfe, and paternal grandparents, Robert and Erleen LaMontagne. He was also preceded in death by uncles John Wolfe and Phillip Wilson.

Elijah's life and passing left a profound impact on our family and community. We are grateful for the outpouring of support and kindness from those who helped us navigate this difficult time.

Special thanks to:

· Genesis Jiu Jitsu River Oaks, Coach Albert Hughes, Truitt Odom, Reed Hall, and the Genesis teammates who came together to support us with a Memorial venue and assisted with various tasks.

· Dennis O'Leary, Anthony MacTavish, Shelly and Joe Turner, Theresa Spangler, and Madison Marchman for their kindness and assistance.

· Central Bible Church and Pastor Ryan Raspberry for their spiritual guidance and support.

· All those who generously donated funds, food, moral support, and their time to help us through this challenging period.