We are very sad to share the news that Elana passed away on February 8, 2025. It is a traumatic and tragic loss for her family, friends, and the entire Elana’s Pantry community.
Elana was a creative beacon who was constantly looking for ways to help people and make the world a better place. She founded two companies that were the definition of doing well by doing good.
Ecosav started in 1993, was a leader in bringing recycling programs to New York City commercial establishments and helping them reduce their waste bills in the process. She was named one of the city’s 40 under 40 for her work.
Elana’s Pantry, founded in 2006, brought simple, healthy, gluten free, and grain free recipes and extensive health and wellness advice to millions of people. She was also the author of three cookbooks, including a New York Times bestseller, and an investor in numerous cutting-edge companies bringing healthy products to people, like Primal Kitchen, LMNT, Kettle & Fire, Wellnesse, Magic Spoon, SteadyMD, Serenity Kids, and Beekeeper’s Naturals.
Elana was committed to giving back with charities such as Pesticide Action Network, Not Putting on a Shirt, Tulane Medical School, Boulder Community Hospital, Baby2Baby, Castleman’s Disease Collaborative Network, and The Anti-Recidivism Fund, and was a co-founder of the Katz Amsterdam Foundation.
Elana was also a fierce advocate for women’s health and eliminating biases through systemic change in the medical system.
Elana had a number of challenges in her life but always found a way to connect and help people, never wavering from her goal to “save the world”, a goal she told her parents about when she was 22.
She will be deeply missed.
Elana is survived by her husband and two sons as well as her parents and sister. We ask for privacy for her family during this very tough time.
Lynne Rupp says
I am so sad to hear this news. Elana was a genius and a visionary. I know she will be deeply missed by the community, and especially by her family. You all have my deepest sympathy.
ChanaEliana Zaguri says
Baruch Dayan Haemet. May her memory be for a blessing.
I appreciated having Elana’s Pantry as a resource after initial autoimmune diagnosis, and world poke back now and then to see what’s new.
Elana brought a lot of light and healing.
המקום ינחם אתכם בתוך שאר אבלי ציון וירושלים
Jenn says
This blog was a touchstone in my early days adjusting to a celiac diagnosis. Grateful for her dedication to educating and inspiring all of us on our wellness journeys. May she rest in peace. Condolences to all who love her.
Golden says
I am so very sorry to hear this news. What a gift she was to this world. Love to her and her family.
Christine says
I am very sad to hear this. I cannot imagine the pain and the loss that Elana’s husband and sons are feeling. I have been following Elana for over 12 years. I feel such a connection with her because she was the first person to give me insight and hope for my son’s sensitivity with gluten. Elana’s creativity and passion to help people will surely be missed. I pray that God will help the family during this very difficult time.
Barbara Simmonds says
What a terrible loss, I am so sorry. I’ve been following Elana’s Pantry for 10 years now and have valued every contact. She was a woman of valor, to be sure, and she will be sorely missed by all. My sincere condolences to her family.
May her memory be a blessing.
BarbaraLB says
I am so sorry for your loss. My sincere condolences to Elana’s family, friends and followers.
Giedre says
I’m so sorry for your loss. Elana was stolen from you and us by medical establishment. I have one of Elanas books and it helped me to cook nice things when I was gluten free. I never met her in person, but she touched my life through this website and her book in many beautiful ways. Rest in peace beautiful lady.
Bethany says
I am so shocked and saddened to read this. Elana has always inspired me with her talent, dedication to her family, and desire to help educate others. She was truly special. I‘m so sorry to her loved ones.
Olga says
I am shocked and brokenhearted to read this. I gasped reading this news. I have only known Elana through this site here, but I have felt a sincere connection to her as a woman and as a human being, well beyond the mere recipes. It seemed to me that the real person came through these pages here. An authentic person, full of life, talent, intelligence, humor. She shared successes and setbacks. I connected with her. I felt her strength, resilience, and her pain. And I connected with the broader community she created here, via this site.
I can only imagine how much of a life force she was in real life. I can only imagine.
To Elana’s husband and beloved sons, and family: I am so, so very sorry for your loss. I hold you in my heart.