Elijah Olaniyi succumbed to brain cancer on February 27, 2025, at the age of 26. He is survived by his widowed father, Festus Olaniyi, and his six siblings.
Elijah Olaniyi was born to parents Festus Olaniyi and Ruth Olaniyi as the fourth of seven children on January 11, 1999.
He had six siblings: two older brothers, Noah and Samson; one older sister, Esther; two younger brothers, Gabriel and David; and one younger sister, Hannah.
Olaniyi’s father, Festus, immigrated to the USA from Nigeria over 30 years ago, with his mother, Ruth, following several years later.
Not to forget, Elijah Olaniyi was the first of their seven children to be born in the U.S.
Festus and Ruth Olaniyi moved to the United States seeking better opportunities for their family.
They faced several challenges while raising their family in Brooklyn, New York. The family of nine members moved from Brooklyn to New Jersey when Elijah Olaniyi was three or four years.
According to reports, Olaniyi’s father, Festus, works in construction.
Earlier today, our Seawolves family lost one of our own when Elijah Olaniyi passed away after a courageous battle with cancer.
— Stony Brook Men’s Basketball (@StonyBrookMBB) February 27, 2025
Elijah will live on in the hearts and minds of all who loved him. We extend our deepest condolences to his family and friends ❤️ pic.twitter.com/0TQ7tLY7Gd
The tight-knit family of nine members lived in a modest apartment in Brooklyn. They worked tirelessly to provide for their children, often juggling multiple jobs to make ends meet.
Despite these hardships, Festus and Ruth ensured they provided their children with the best possible, according to their ability.
Olaniyi’s career with the Seawolves was a rollercoaster; he was playing shooting guard and small forward. During that time, Elijah Olaniyi’s mother, Ruth, passed away in July 2017, just two days after he moved into college.
Nonetheless, he didn’t let it affect him; in fact, over the next three years, Elijah Olaniyi became the eighth-leading scorer at the Division I level.
He also earned Rookie of the Year and two All-Conference selections.
Elijah Olaniyi and His Father, Festus Olaniyi, Faced Financial Problems After His Cancer Diagnosis!
One of the most significant challenges the Olaniyi family faced was the sudden loss of Ruth Olaniyi in July 2017.
The ordeal struck deep, especially for Elijah, who had just begun his college journey at Stony Brook University.
Despite the emotional toll, Elijah continued to excel in basketball. Following Ruth’s passing, Festus Olaniyi became the sole provider for the family. He worked long hours to make ends meet.
With time, the Olaniyi family was trying to process the ordeal; however, in November 2023, their optimism was met with a devastating blow when Elijah was diagnosed with a brain tumor.
Very Sad news as Former Stony Brook and Miami basketball player Elijah Olaniyi has passed away
— Hoop Herald (@TheHoopHerald) February 27, 2025
A natural born leader, smart, winner, and hard worker. Elijah cared about his family more than himself, and was a self made all conference player
Pray for his family.
RIP E 🙏 pic.twitter.com/xFxcqHzfp7
His diagnosis of cancer added another layer of hardship for the Olaniyi family. Neither Olaniyi nor his widowed father had the necessary funds to afford his medical bills.
Hence, he started a GoFundMe account on December 6, 2023, to raise $100,00 for his chemotherapy treatment, which began on Jan 15, 2024.
Despite overwhelming medical bills and uncertainty surrounding Elijah Olaniyi’s career, Festus stood like a rock through medications and surgeries.
However, Olaniyi lost his battle to brain cancer, leaving his father, siblings, and extended family.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Elijah Olaniyi’s favorite athlete was Kobe Bryant because of his outlook on life and basketball.
- The basketball player majored in sociology with a minor in Africana studies.
