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Elías Rubén Gutiérrez was born July 3, 1942 in New York, New York. He lived there during the early years of his life alongside younger brothers Daniel and Felipe.

Tragedy struck and their father passed away from Tuberculosis at an early age in 1945. Unable to support all three children Tomasita (biological mother) was faced with the terrible choice, but opportunity, to send Elías to Puerto Rico, and to be raised by his father's sister Aunt Rosario (Sayito) Gutierrez de Coca and husband Marcelino Coca. They raised him as their own son and provided him with an education and instilled in him the values for honesty, ethics, and professionalism. He went to study Economics and Urban Planning at the University of Puerto Rico, and then went on to earn a Ph. D. at Cornell University, in Ithaca, N.Y.  Joined the faculty as professor at the Graduate School of Planning of the U.P.R., eventually becoming its director and continued its development until his retirement in 2019, after 50 years.

Elías was a respected economist between Puerto Rico and the mainland US. He served on several administrations in the island as an economic policy advisor. He was also a published author of economy books like "El futuro sobre el tapete" and the short stories' book "Detrás del sofa". Founder member of the Association of Economists of P.R. He loved teaching, developing, and implementing economic models. He was known for predicting economic events impact.

Elías first married in circa 1962 to our mother, Evelyn Rivera. They had Francisco (1966), Juan Carlos (1969) and Ruben (1972). They raised their children in Puerto Rico until their divorce in 1982. He 1994 remarried to Rocio Montalvo, Sta. Teresita high school classmate. They   enjoyed a very happy marriage until Rocio's untimely passing in 2017. This loss was immediately followed by Hurricane Maria, forced Elias to leave his home in Isla Verde and go to Houston for several months. These events took a toll on his health. In 2022, he was diagnosed with advanced Parkinson's disease. He spent the last year of his life in Houston surrounded by his family, sons and granddaughters.

He is survived by his sons Francisco Xavier, Juan Carlos and Rubén Alberto, daughters in law, Martha, Tracy, and Tina; granddaughters Sophia, Caitlyn, Kristina, Noelle, and Emily; his brothers Daniel and Felipe Gutierrez; and Rocio's sons Sean and Scott Sayers.