Elias Solomon Slyder.   Eli.   E.   "Ellius Sleedare"  (thanks to friends at Conn College who,  as a final prank and homage to their funny friend, phoned in the wrong pronunciation for graduation day)

Born June 21, 1976, he packed a lot of life into his too few days, leaving us on October 22, 2023, at the age of 47.

Eli was a character, the life of many a party, and a friend to people in all corners of the globe. As a friend said, it is rare that you meet someone with as much passion as Eli. He lived in the moment, seized the day, and was fascinated by all manner of things.  He was a master story-teller, and while his humor could sometimes be a little "off-color," his exuberance and energy made him a social magnet that brought people together.  Eli would talk to anyone, anywhere. He had a gift for making things happen out of thin air.

As a child, Eli was bursting with ideas and plans. You could find him creating elaborate contraptions,  forts and mega dirt bike jumps. He was always pushing the limits, of his abilities, and the forces of nature. In elementary school he survived a fall from a tree fort, and in high school a brush with a car while biking. Later in life, his escapades became the material for many a fascinating story.  He flew with a friend doing tricks in a stunt plane, did a stint selling work boots in Africa, and ventured off the beaten path to many remote destinations.  He seemed to have as many lives as ideas. 

Eli was a tremendous squash player and coach. Squash rose to the top of his sports passions and provided a career that took advantage of both his athletic and intellectual prowess. He competed in regional and national tournaments, at his best in the top division of the NYC League. He taught squash both at private and public clubs in the city as well as volunteering his time to teach kids at CitySquash, an urban program which brings squash to disadvantaged kids in NYC. 

He also played tennis, baseball, soccer, and hockey; he swam, he skied, he biked and was game to try just about any physical activity. It was a rare moment to see Eli without a ball or racquet in hand.

He also loved using his mind and figuring things out - from planning and completing an ice hockey rink renovation for his Eagle Scout project, to playing backgammon, to teaching himself classical guitar, to reading thick books, to engaging in esoteric conversations, to creating new strategies for squash, other sports or party games. Ever innovative, he was a "mad scientist" of life.

After graduating from Connecticut College, Eli made New York City his home base. He loved the city that never sleeps, which often included Eli. He also loved adventure and traveling the world, including a college semester in South Africa. While on a trip to London, he fell in love, got married, and called it home for a while. But for all the exotic places he went, his favorite place on earth was probably a tiny little Island in Maine, which he fondly described as the "most beautiful place in the world to play tennis."

Over the last few years of his life, Eli faced challenges with mental health, made all the more difficult because he was unable to recognize what was going on. Despite this, he maintained his love of life and activity, was intrigued by new ideas, and was always in pursuit of "how things work." Thank you to the many family and friends who invested time, energy and love in supporting Eli. He loved deeply and sincerely appreciated his many meaningful connections.

Eli died at home unexpectedly, due to complications from underlying medical conditions. His passing leaves behind an Eli-sized hole in many of our lives - and that's a big one! Remembering his humor, his generosity, and his many talents are already easing some of the pain. He was a one-of-a-kind human with a big personality and a big heart who will be deeply missed.

Eli is survived by his mother, Caroline Bartholomew Medina; his sisters, Annabelle Coote and Allegra Haupt; his half-siblings Leah Slyder, Anthony Boyce, Isaac Slyder and Jacob Slyder; his brothers-in-law, Tom Coote and Ric Haupt; nephews, Liam, Ben, and Theo; and nieces, Zoe, Aria, and Bernadette; step-mother Linda; ex-wife Ana Gonzalez Herrera; and many other relatives, friends, and past loves.  Although each of us experienced Eli's energetic, joyous personality in different ways, all of our lives are richer for it.

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