In Loving Memory of Eli Ortiz Jr.
December 13, 1984 – June 1, 2025

My husband, Eli Ortiz Jr., passed away on June 1st — and somehow the world keeps turning, even though mine feels like it’s standing still.

Jr. was the kind of man you don’t forget. Not because he was loud or dramatic, but because he was alive in every sense of the word. He had a laugh that filled a room, and a heart that stretched even wider. He was joy, kindness, and strength all wrapped into one unforgettable soul.

If you knew him, you were lucky — because Eli made everyone feel like they belonged. He had a way of turning strangers into friends and heavy moments into something a little lighter. He was always cracking jokes, always lifting someone else up, even when he had his own weight to carry.

He loved the ocean — not just being near it, but in it. Fishing, sitting on the sand, just watching the waves with his dogs by his side — that was his peace. Cars were another love of his, always tinkering, always fixing. And if there was ever a boat in sight, you could bet he was already halfway to it with a grin on his face.

We traveled the country together when he drove trucks, just the two of us and the road. Those years were full of stories, late-night laughs, and quiet moments I’ll carry forever.

More than anything, Jr. loved his family. He lived for his family. He showed up. He protected. He provided. He didn’t just tell us he loved us — he proved it, every single day, in a thousand small ways.

He didn’t leave quietly — he left as a warrior, with dignity, love, and so much grace. He reminded all of us what courage looks like.

He fought with everything he had. His body was tired, but his spirit never was. Even in the final hours, when he knew how serious things were, he still found ways to make us laugh. He cracked jokes through the tears, comforting us, when we should’ve been comforting him.

That was Jr. Strong, selfless, and full of light until the very end.

I don’t know how to say goodbye to him. But I do know this: the world is a little dimmer now, but heaven got one hell of a light.

He was my heart, my safe place, my home, and the greatest man I’ve ever known. And while my heart is shattered, I know how lucky I was to love him and be loved by him.

I’ll carry him with me for the rest of my life.

Jr is survived by his wife Erika Ortiz, Mother Elizabeth Cajigas, Father Eli Samuel Ortiz Sr., Sister Kasey Ortiz, Mother-in-Law Ernesztina Toris and aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.

Erika Ortiz