Ella Elizabeth Johnson Suicide, WA, Obituary, Death: Washington University Remembers Senior Ella Johnson, 21

The Washington University in St. Louis community is mourning the heartbreaking loss of senior Ella Elizabeth Johnson, who passed away on January 14, 2026, at the age of 21 following a long struggle with mental health challenges. Her death has left a profound sense of sorrow among classmates, faculty, and loved ones who remember her as a compassionate, gifted, and deeply caring individual.

A native of Belmont, Massachusetts, Ella was majoring in psychological and brain sciences and Spanish, fields that reflected both her academic excellence and her passion for understanding and helping others. Friends and mentors described her as selfless and generous, with her roommate, Isa Arzeno, calling her “the most selfless and generous person I have ever met.”

Ella’s academic achievements were remarkable. She attended Shady Hill School in Cambridge before graduating from Belmont High School in 2022 as a member of the National Honor Society. She received the prestigious Harvard Prize Book Award and was also named a Gold Key Scholastic Scholar for her outstanding work as a visual artist.

At WashU, Ella thrived in research, contributing to the Lifespan Lab and previously working in the Emotion and Mental Health Lab. She was awarded the 2025 Summer Undergraduate Research Guided Experience, where her mentor praised her innovative thinking and kindness toward peers. Her career aspirations centered on youth mental health, supported by her internship in Cusco, Peru, and her study abroad experience in Madrid.

Outside of academics, Ella was an active member of Kappa Kappa Gamma, where she championed mental health awareness through the sorority’s partnership with Active Minds. Friends remember her for comforting others, curating music playlists, loving thrift fashion, and enjoying cats, museums, and hiking.

Ella is survived by her parents, siblings, and extended family. A celebration of her life will be held at Washington University, with funeral services in Cambridge. Her family requests donations to the Ella Elizabeth Johnson Fund for mental health at WashU and encourages acts of kindness in her memory, honoring a life dedicated to compassion, creativity, and care for others.