Matthew Eliga Fiapule Tuilesū, age 51,  passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday May 5, due to pre-existing health issues.  Matthew leaves behind a legacy of curiosity, service, and a legendary commitment to the “official rules.” Born in San Francisco, California, on April 8, 1975, Matt was the third of five children born to Eliga Fiapule and Susan Acom Brannon Tuilesū.

At the core of Matt’s identity was pride in his Samoan heritage. This pride was expressed through his singing voice; he loved to sing in Samoan, sharing the beauty of his culture through music that resonated with those who heard him.

A true jack-of-all-trades, Matt’s life was defined by his desire to help others and his pride in a job well done. His journey of service began early with the California Conservation Corps, where he provided support in the aftermath of the 1994 Northridge earthquake.  He faithfully served a full-time mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in the Tennessee Nashville Mission.

Matt later spent many years working with FedEx at LAX, where he was as much a part of the loading team as he was a “Dominos Master” during breaks and after shifts. For the last seven years, Matt was an employee of Sykes Enterprise in Orem, Utah. He took genuine pleasure in solving problems for customers and deeply valued the camaraderie of his co-workers.

To know Matt was to embrace his many lovable quirks.  An avid reader, he was renowned for his remarkable memory and was essentially a walking encyclopedia, known for sharing trivia facts on a myriad of topics. While he mastered many intricate origami shapes, he was best known for the countless origami cranes he folded, leaving behind small tokens of his patience and skill.

One of Matt’s most famous roles was as the family’s ultimate referee.  An absolute stickler for the rules, Matt had no patience for “house rules.” If a game was being played, it was played by the manual. He wanted to have the last word on any game technicality, and would argue his side indefinitely.  Whether he was leading a spirited round of the game Bang! , telling riddles, or putting together puzzles, these moments were the highlights of family gatherings that will be treasured.

Beyond his trivia and sharp wit, Matt was a devoted son, brother, uncle and friend.  Of those roles, his favorite was uncle. He will be sorely missed by his many nieces and nephews. He taught them to be competitive, follow the rules (unless he was losing), and always look for the facts.

While he often insisted on having the last word in any debate, his family and friends would give anything to hear his voice—and his rules—one more time. His family is deeply saddened by Matthew’s passing. His infectious laugh will be missed. He is gone too soon, but will never be forgotten.

A Celebration of Life for Matt will be held on Saturday, May 30 th , 2026 in Monrovia, California at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints chapel located at 532 West Lemon Ave.  In lieu of gifts or flowers, make time to play a game with your family but don’t forget to follow the rules!