Matt and I go back only 5 years, but seems like 20. We had so many adventures together at work, travelling to clients around the US, at music festivals, snowboarding, vacationing with my crazy family (and he would say his was crazier). He was like a little brother or me, we argued, wrestled (he fought dirty!), discussed deep thoughts and were overall both there for each other when needed. He looked to me for advice, mentorship, and show interest in learning from my life experiences. I always enjoyed his stories, they were always half crazy - half amazing., always hilarious My family sees him as extension of ours, referring to him as Uncle Matt. My kids each had a special relationship with him, as he had a unique way about putting himself at the level of others. I remember him going into 5th grade level debates with my son Calvin, and me thinking it was ridiculous…but now realize it made a super impact on Calvin to relate at his level – Matt was a kid at heart.
One of the stories I love about Matt...
Last year at sasquatch festival we volunteered to help set up the festival in exchange for some “special access” passes. We were assigned the job of putting up the letters on the pond that spelled Sasquatch, each letter floating on its own. At the end we realized we missed the first S and it merely said “asquatch” – doh (I posted this picture in the gallery). Then they asked us to put fliers up around the venue, Matt promptly asked if we could have a golf cart since it was so much to carry and cover the whole venue…they were like uhhh, sure…and we were off. We quickly learned only the “important people” got to use the golf carts, hence, everyone was asking us questions. For example – the merchants would say things like “how do we get paid” or “who do we talk to about wifi connections”…at first we were like uh, we are just volunteers….but then we/he decided to have fun with it. Matt would tell people things like – “you need to talk to Tina in accounting”, who I am pretty sure didn’t exist. By the end of the day we knew everyone behind the scenes and chatted with those same people as bought beers and food throughout the weekend. Each person laughing when the saw us and realized we were just 2 guys having fun!
Every time I think about Matt, I simply laugh and smile. We had so much fun together, I will always remember him as my partner in crime, my buddy, and my brother from another mother.
RIP Mathew – you were a special breed, and will forever be remembered by those who you touched in life.