EAGLE PASS — The community is holding its breath for the Tamez family after the sudden death of 20-year-old Felix Eduardo “Felixito” Tamez, a scholar-athlete who died while studying abroad in Japan.
Felix reportedly suffered a seizure in his dorm room on his birthday, just a month before he was due to return home.
Felix was studying through a Lamar University partner program in Miyazaki, where he maintained a 4.0 GPA and successfully adapted to a new culture and country.
His father, Felix Tamez Sr., says faculty at the school loved him and that the campus observed a day of silence in his honor. One of Felix’s last essays, his father added, outlined the future he planned to build.
At home, the family is waiting for his remains to be returned. Felix’s parents, Felix and Araceli Tamez, and his brothers, Sebastian and Eli, are devastated.
Tributes Pour From Community
The Tamez family, long-standing pillars in Eagle Pass sports and youth programs, now faces the emotional and financial strain that follows a sudden loss so far from home.
Felix’s life was unmistakably whole. He was an honor-level student and a standout athlete. A long list of coaches and teammates remember him as a hard worker and a team player.
He won MVP as a running back for the Venados and helped lead championship teams.
As a child, he played baseball for the Yankees and Stallions teams and reportedly hit a game-winning home run that people still talk about.
Even when injuries and seizures later limited his playing time, his love for the game and his teammates never waned.
Those who knew him describe a young man who led with humility. “He broke so many records, but Felixito was about the team,” his father said.
“He cared about his team winning; it was never about him.” Outside sports, Felix was devoted to family, close friends, and his dogs. He dreamed big, wrote about his plans, and was already making progress toward them.
The outpouring of support has been immediate and overwhelming. Friends, family, former coaches, and neighbors flooded social media with condolences: “Prayers for you and your family” and “My deepest condolences” appear across dozens of posts.
A.D. Ibarra, writing from Miyazaki, offered a personal reflection and a poem he plans to give Felix. “Who is to explain the injustices that happen in this world?” Ibarra asks.
He finishes with a promise: “We will live your dreams for you. For in this life, dreams never die.” Felix Sr. replied to Ibarra: “Thank u, Ibarra, for your kind words! My son loved u so much! My son loved football and the people around him! Thank you, thank you!
An individual, named Jessica Estrada has launched a fundraiser to cover urgent funeral and travel costs, allowing Felix and Araceli to focus on mourning rather than worrying about bills.
The GoFundMe campaign requests assistance with funeral services and memorial expenses, burial and interment fees, and immediate costs, allowing the parents to take time off work while they grieve.
Organizers ask supporters to donate if they can, and to share the link widely if they cannot, “Every dollar helps,” the appeal says.
The Eagle Pass community has already begun holding vigils, sending prayers, and gathering support for the Tamex family as they await Felix’s body and final prayers.
