You see the headline pop up, or maybe you catch a snippet of a conversation at a game, and your heart sinks. There’s a lot of confusion floating around online lately about the Montross family. Specifically, people are searching to see if Eric Montross wife died, or if there has been another tragedy following the passing of the beloved Tar Heel legend.
Let's clear the air immediately: Laura Montross is alive.
The confusion likely stems from the devastating loss of Eric himself back in December 2023. When a public figure as towering—both literally and figuratively—as Eric Montross passes away, the digital echo chamber often scrambles the details. People hear "Montross" and "death" and their brains start filling in the blanks incorrectly.
Eric was the one who battled cancer. He was the one who left us far too soon at age 52. Laura, his partner in everything for decades, has been the one carrying his legacy forward while navigating the quiet, heavy reality of widowhood.
The Reality Behind the Headlines
Honestly, it’s easy to see why the "Eric Montross wife died" search query gained traction. In the wake of a major celebrity or athlete's death, there is often a flurry of misinformation. Sometimes it’s a poorly written AI summary; sometimes it’s just a game of "telephone" played across social media feeds.
Laura Montross hasn't just been "the wife" of a basketball star. She was a co-architect of their life in Chapel Hill. She was right there with him when they started the Eric Montross Father’s Day Basketball Camp, which has raised nearly $2 million for the UNC Children’s Hospital.
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When Eric died on December 17, 2023, the family statement was clear. He was "surrounded by loved ones at his home." That circle of loved ones was anchored by Laura and their children, Sarah, Andrew, and Megan.
Who is Laura Montross?
She isn't someone who seeks the spotlight. Laura has always seemed more comfortable in the role of the community pillar. A native of Lexington, North Carolina, she brought a certain Southern grace to the "Big E’s" whirlwind career.
She’s a quilter. A philanthropist. A mother.
She actually co-founded Vaccine Ambassadors, an organization that works to provide equitable access to vaccines for children globally. Think about that for a second. While the world knew Eric for his jump hook and his radio voice, Laura was (and is) doing the granular work of saving lives through public health initiatives.
Dealing with the Legacy of Loss
Losing a spouse to cancer is a specific kind of hell. Eric was diagnosed in March 2023. By December, he was gone. That’s a nine-month sprint through a nightmare.
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The "ripples" the family mentioned in their official statement are real. You see them in the way the Chapel Hill community still speaks about them as a unit. You see it in the continued work of the Rams Club and the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, where Eric was both a patient and a tireless advocate.
The internet often wants a "story" to be over or to have a dramatic sequel. But the reality for Laura Montross is much more human. It's about maintaining the Father’s Day camp. It's about watching her kids grow up without their dad. It's about being the steward of a No. 00 jersey that hangs in the Smith Center rafters.
Why the Misinformation Persists
Search engines can be weird. When people search for "Eric Montross death," they often follow up with questions about his family. If a low-quality "news" site scrapes a headline about "The Death of the Montross Era" or something equally vague, the algorithm can get tripped up.
Furthermore, there was another news story around the same time concerning actress Kate Micucci and her own cancer battle. Some news aggregators lumped these "cancer update" stories together in a way that made it look like multiple members of the Montross family were ill.
They weren't.
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Fact Check: The Montross Family Today
- Laura Montross: Living in North Carolina, continuing her philanthropic work.
- Children: Sarah, Andrew, and Megan are all pursuing their own lives while honoring their father's memory.
- The Cause: The family remains deeply tied to UNC Hospitals.
If you’re looking to support the family or honor Eric’s memory, the best way isn’t by feeding the rumor mill. It’s by looking at what they actually care about. They’ve consistently pointed people toward the UNC Children’s Hospital or Vaccine Ambassadors.
What You Can Do
Grief doesn't have an expiration date, and neither does a legacy. Instead of worrying about false reports of a second tragedy, you can lean into the positive impact the Montross family is still making.
Support the Eric Montross Father’s Day Basketball Camp. It’s not just a camp; it’s a funding engine for pediatric care.
Donate to UNC Lineberger. This is where Eric fought his battle, and where many others are still fighting theirs.
Check your sources. If you see a headline saying a public figure's spouse has passed, look for an official statement from a reputable outlet like the Associated Press or the university they are affiliated with.
Laura Montross is still here, doing the work, raising her family, and keeping the memory of the "Big E" alive. That’s the real story.
To keep the legacy going, consider making a direct contribution to the UNC Children’s Hospital in memory of Eric Montross, ensuring the work he and Laura started together continues to help families in need.