Elliot Rouff

Type of Donation:       Corneas and Tissues

Age and Location:      Age 31 – Lake Forest, CA

Date of Donation:           January 5, 2022

Sponsor:                      Honored by OneLegacy

ELLIOT’S STORY

Our dear son Elliot unexpectedly took his life on January 5, 2022. He was 31 years old, had earned the rank of Eagle Scout, and graduated from college with degrees in Public Administration and Criminal Justice. He had recently retired on medical disability after 11 years with the United States Coast Guard, specializing in Marksmanship and Maritime Enforcement.

The enclosed photograph was taken at his 30th birthday celebration at a nearby regional park where he loved to fish with his friends and had a summer job in high school. Elliot considered family relationships to be very important and was adamant that as many family members as possible came to this party, even though as is sometimes the case not everyone in the family got along with each other. Well, it turned out to be a fun day for all with plenty of fun, food, and fishing with no family drama at all. We believe Elliot wanted this to be an opportunity to promote peace and healing amongst the family and he pulled it off!

Elliot was fully aware of what he was doing when he affixed the Donor sticker to his driver's license and when OneLegacy asked if we wanted to place any restrictions on his donations we said no, knowing that Elliot believed that when he went to be with the Lord he would be "absent from the body."

Everyone agrees that Elliot always gave the most thoughtful gifts. What could be more thoughtful than the Gift of Life? As of this writing his tissues have benefited 67 people in 15 states. We even received a letter from a young woman stating that thanks to Elliot's donation she would not lose her right arm.

Although we miss our son terribly, we are proud and comforted by Elliot's selfless, ongoing generosity. Although he is no longer with us, because he elected to be a donor, we feel he will never truly be gone.

Having seen the Rose Parade in person he would love to ride on the OneLegacy float.