I wonder sometimes if we will ever get to finish our debate about rocks and sticks and things. I still think I was right, btw. I also think where you are now you probably know the answer which I am excited to know for sure myself one day. You were smarter than most everyone but always had that playful side that came through and that made me laugh... thanks for all you did to set Jen and the kids up to shine. I know you know they are ... miss you and love you.

https://youtu.be/FD0CRKAw6Nw

Go to the 10:00 mark and enjoy.
Miss you Matt.

Just thinking about being at the coast with you, Jen and the kids at our folks' place - specific memories of you sucking out the juices during a fresh crab feed. (*eewwwww) ... And I will never forget the verbal sparring about whether rocks and inanimate things might have energy some people can tap into and how/why that was (or was not) possible... I so loved the sparkle you would get from a good debate (not sure that example qualified as anything but an annoying conversation, to you though... ) - lol. I love and miss you Matt.

Thinking about Matt, Jen, Abbie and Luke today. Sending love and remembering all the wonderful times Matt created in his life and for his family. He is always missed and loved. May we all remember to tell those we love how much they mean to us every day and keep in mind just how suddenly we can lose someone. We love you Matt. We miss you.

Happy Birthday to Matt!
Thinking a lot about Matt and missing him today on what would have been his 52nd Birthday. Spring Break was generally a big family travel trip for all of us, but this year, as the kids get older, we’re not traveling all together. Luke and I are wrapping up a crazy five day college trip that included the Claremont Colleges (where Matt and I met), Occidental, USC, Whitman, and now a few schools in Seattle. Abbie is doing a bi-coastal spring break with friends in Miami AND Los Angeles. Seeing Luke on campus at Claremont and thinking about Abbie being the same age I was when I met Matt is a little bittersweet. He would have loved helping the kids launch and we miss him a ton. If you get a chance, think about your favorite memory of him today. Mine are countless, but one of my favorites I haven’t posted in a while is a spoof video he did when he worked at BCG (Matt's portion of the video runs from about 9:50 - 15:10):
https://youtu.be/FD0CRKAw6Nw

Miss you Matt. See you on your island some day. Best, Jim

I was honored to marry into Matt’s family when I married his dad, Nile. Matt’s love and respect for Nile were beautiful to experience. I loved watching Matt grow into a husband and father – two roles he adored. His love for Jen, Abbie and Luke brought him joy and brought me joy too. When people ask me what Matt was like, I usually distill it down to something like this: a love-filled, open-faced, goofball genius. Fast to smile and get others to laugh, totally focused on his family, with a brilliant and curious mind. His loss has created such a hole in our lives, but I am so grateful to have known him, to have been grandmother to his children, and to have walked alongside him in his life. Peace to everyone who celebrates his birthday today – we all feel your love.

March is full of birthdays in our family. Matt's name is on my calendar for this special day. It is less painful each year to some degree but we will never get over his loss. Matt was someone who appreciated life so much. I loved how excited he would get about things. I remember that first iphone coming out and how he got in line the night before and was blogging. That was before blogging was a well known verb. I remember the way his eyes would light up when he talked to his kids and how much he loved my sister and his family. We all loved Matt and miss him and on his birthday I just wanted to say so. Love you and miss you Matt!

Thinking of Matt today. We think and talk about Matt often. Matt loved my sister and their kids truly and deeply. He was an incredibly fun and funny person and I loved him. I still tear up and cry to this day when I think about what he has missed with his family but I also know that he would be so proud of Jen, Abbie and Luke for their resilience and their success. We love you Matt. We are grateful we had you as a brother-in-law and now enjoy the memories of the times we had together. - Mindy, Bruce and the boys

Four Years
Today marks the fourth anniversary of the day Matt passed away. In some ways, that awful Sunday seems like last week, and in other ways, it seems like a lifetime ago. Four years is the length of time that we (or at least most of us) spend in high school or college and if I think back to how much you change and evolve during those four year periods, it makes me think about how much the kids and I have changed since April 26, 2015. Obviously, the kids have grown and changed a lot - Luke was 9 and Abbie was 12 when Matt died. They are turning into amazing people and it's fun to see glimpses of the adults I imagine they'll become. I'm so proud of them and it's fun when you love your kids not only because they're your kids, but also because they're your favorite people in the world. I'm so lucky.

For me, the changes have been more subtle, but still significant. Learning to stand on my own and navigate life without Matt who was my best friend and who I've loved since age 19, has been hard. With the support and love of an amazing group of friends and family, I've mostly figured it out, but I know I'll always miss being able to just shoot Matt a quick text when I want to share something or need advice. It doesn't happen as often as it used to, but every once in a while, I still jump straight to "I need to tell Matt" when something exciting happens and it still sucks when 5 seconds later, I remember that I can't. 

If anything good comes out of loss, it's that we learn to value what we have, to love those around us, and to embrace the possibilities that come our way. I'm so grateful for everyone who has supported and loved us over the past four years - that group includes people I've known my whole life, people who came into our lives at every stop along the way, and people who came into our lives after Matt's death. Without all of you, it's hard to imagine how we could have navigated these past few years. I hope everyone takes a minute this weekend to embrace all the good things in your own lives and that you always remember to be open to unexpected possibilities. Life can be too short and living life to the fullest means embracing all of it and taking chances. I hope that the kids and I (and all of you) can continue to grow and change and embrace everything that comes our way, so we can all live full, wonderful lives.

Thinking of Matt today on what would have been his 49th Birthday. I know for some people, getting close to a milestone birthday like 50 can be angst-inducing. Matt felt the opposite - he relished getting older and more mature which makes each birthday he misses a little sadder. For those of you who knew him in his 20s, you might have heard him talking about how he wished he looked older or how he was looking forward to gray hair. He thought looking more mature would help him be taken more seriously :) He also just didn't care about getting older because he was so totally future-focused that he was always excited about what was next. He didn't dwell on the negative and he just knew that tomorrow would bring something awesome. We really miss him and I know he would have loved all of the great things happening in our world. He would have adored seeing Luke grow up and get ready for high school and would have had so much fun with Abbie's college visits. He would have loved seeing Woodridge grow into a firm of 20 people and seeing success for some of our past companies like Trackvia and eBags. He would have loved seeing all of the great things our family and friends are doing. He would have loved it all and we miss him and wish we could share all of it with him. His last two birthdays with us were both celebrated in one of our favorite places on earth - St. John in the USVI - thinking about that time in that magical place brings a smile to my face on a day that's a little tough. If you think of a memory or thought you want to share, feel free to share it here. Finally, as always, thanks to everyone for your support & love

I think of Matt more often than I would have expected (I can hear him say “OK, I guess I’ll take that as a compliment “). Even though we only spent one year together at Illinois, we quickly became close friends and shared many interests - long distance girlfriends (now our wives), starting companies, exercise (he running/swimming, me soccer), making fun of our co-physics grad students (b/c we were so cool), and procrastinating on our problem sets.

We stayed in touch fairly regularly after that year - strategizing on how to finish our PhDs quickly, sharing invention/company ideas, swapping management consulting interview stories, talking about our companies/startups, relaying our excitement when our daughters and then our sons were born, and just catching up on life. Whether it was 3 months in between calls or 3 years, we always had the same connection. So whenever certain situations arise - startup ideas, frustration with enterprise software, registering for a Tough Mudder on Active.com, Vikings doing well, etc, Matt pops into my mind and I’d like to give him a call. 

Just rereading my post from 2015, I realize I said many of the same things which shows how important they and Matt have been to me. At this point I know he’d say “Dude, enough of the sappy stuff. Point made. Move on.” 

OK, then - Happy Birthday Matt, I miss you.

Chris

Remembering Matt today. I think of him often actually, as I drive by your church almost every weekday when dropping Jessi off at Lakewood High School. Hope you guys are doing well. -Jim, Suzanne & Jessi Foster

Today would have been Matt's 48th birthday. It's our third Spring Break and third time celebrating his birthday without him. For the first year, we ran away to Paris; last year we snuck away to SoCal; and this year, the kids have different spring break weeks, so we're just sticking close to home and living life. When people ask how we're doing, I think this is the best descriptor - we're living life. We're finding the joy in the day-to-day: the kids are doing well, Woodridge is going great and we're trying to live the best lives we can. We miss him and wish he were here to enjoy all the great things in our lives, but we're still so grateful for the time we had. I posted a few (ok a lot) of my favorite photos of him with the kids on Facebook. If you have time, please share a story or memory of Matt on the memorial website, we love to read them.

Matt was loyal, fearless and funny. In the early days of Trackvia, we got invited to go to Silicon Valley to meet with Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz and pitch them on investing. For some reason Matt got it in his head that we should insert a random picture of a badger during our presentation, like in between slides on the market opportunity and our marketing approach. Despite my attempts to remove it, it stayed, and turned out to be a funny moment with a tough audience. Also at Trackvia, as our number of employees grew, he would occasionally call everyone into the developers office, count how many there were, and then write it in black marker on the glass wall. He kept wanting it to go up faster. Now that I'm doing a new startup, I have daily moments when I wish I could bring something up with Matt to get his take on it, and even get into a good argument about it, which Matt always considered good sport. Miss you Matt.

It’s so hard to believe that two years have passed. I am so sorry for your and the children’s loss. It is good to know that you have the love and support of family and friends. Matt always spoke so highly of you and the children. A very proud father! I read your post and know that every day, and today especially, can be painful times. I’m currently writing a book on Grief and Loss, and your point of view and epiphany were very thought provoking. I also liked the McAdams Factor! May your memories of him forever keep you close and bring you comfort.

Last year, I wrote a post about the McAdams Factor and living life as though everything is rigged in your favor. This year, as the two-year anniversary of Matt’s death approaches, I’ve been writing more and a lot of what I’ve been writing has been focused on me and the kids and what we lost when we lost Matt. I wrote about being mad because I wasn’t able to share what was happening with Matt, about being mad because I was having to parent alone, and about being mad because I felt lonely. Generally, I was writing a lot about being mad. Then, a few days ago, I had an epiphany of sorts. I realized that I shouldn’t only be mad for what the kids and I are missing by Matt being gone, I should also be mad on his behalf for what he’s missing. Tonight, on a chilly night down at Green Mountain High School, Abbie’s JV Soccer Team played a great game that Matt would have loved watching. For the second night in a row, the team played so well that the game was called early because of the CHSAA 10 goal mercy rule. Tonight, Abbie actually scored 4 of the team’s 10 goals (not typical, she’s not even a starter, but she played tough and was in the right place at the right time more often than not). Matt had coached Abbie (and two of her current teammates) from 1st - 4th grade and he loved watching them play and helping them get better. He would have loved watching them play tonight.
Matt would have loved being a part of so many good things that have happened lately. He would have loved seeing Woodridge Software, the company we worked so hard to start, recognized as a finalist for the 2017 Colorado Companies to Watch competition (we didn’t win, but we’re so proud to have been recognized as one of the finalists in our first year applying). He would have loved seeing eBags, the company where I worked when we first came to Colorado, finally getting a great exit for the founders and investors after 19 years. He would have lovetd being a part of the process of looking for new office space for Woodridge because we’re growing so fast we’re outgrowing our current space. He would have loved all the crazy, amazing things the kids are doing and everything else great in our lives. He also would have loved being a part of the tough times. He was the type of person who reveled in the tougher challenges and would have risen to the occasion when the kids needed something extra because they’d screwed up (I promise it happens) or would have been there when friends experienced a loss or tragedy themselves. He was the person who would be there to help everyone else. He wanted to be a part of everything in life, good and bad, and I’m most mad that he was taken away before he could do all of these things.
It’s not fair that I waited and he never came back from that bike ride two years ago. It’s not fair that Luke had a pit in his stomach as he was leaving on his first Chorale tour on Sunday because two years ago when Abbie was on her tour in Europe, the unthinkable happened. It’s not fair that Abbie doesn’t have a second parent to go to when the teenage years get tough. None of that is fair, but what’s even more unfair is that Matt isn’t here to experience it all for himself. He approached all of life, the good and bad, with such fervor. He would have loved it all and I’m mad for him that he doesn’t get the chance. When I’m feeling angry or feeling sorry for myself and my situation, I’m going to try to remember that at least I’m getting the chance to experience life and that chance wasn’t taken away from me. If you get a chance, think of Matt tomorrow and remember that we’re all lucky that we’re still here getting the chance to experience all the good and bad that life offers. If you want to share a story or memory of Matt, we love to read them. Thanks to everyone who continues to stick by us and continues to help us as we make our way without Matt. We’re so grateful to all of you.

I was riding home today and Young MC's 'Bust a Move' came on. It triggered a memory of Matt blaring it in the dorm room at Mudd. And then pulling out a Vanilla Ice inspired white boy hip hop dancing diisplay: overbite and all. The irrepressible joy, self knowledge, and the willingness to just throw it out there- he really danced like no one was watching. I still have yet to find anyone who is that authentic. Miss you, man.

I was just thinking of my former neighbor, looking up Trackvia to see about him and discovered I needed to look further. I am saddened to learn of his passing. I greatly enjoyed his creativity and watching this in play with Abbie and Luke. I know few with a personal ice rink, fewer still as neighbors. My condolences to Jen, Abbie and Luke and apologies for losing touch with all of you after our move.

Thinking of you all today.

I did not have the pleasure of knowing Matt, but Jen's story today of the McAdams Factor was pretty telling, and powerful for me. It's clearly living on in your family.

"Live life as though everything is rigged in your favor"

Today marks the one-year anniversary of the day Matt passed away and I thought I’d mark today with a few thoughts. One of Matt’s greatest traits was that he was an eternal optimist. He always believed everything would work out and this optimism fueled everything from his determination to become a competitive college runner to his pursuit of his PhD at Caltech to his entrepreneurial drive to start multiple companies to everything else he did in his life. He truly believed he would succeed at whatever he tried. Matt even had a name for this personal inability to fail - he called it the McAdams Factor. When I would express doubt or worry about something (e.g. him leaving his SVP position at a large company to start a consulting firm a month before our second child was born), he would remind me of the McAdams Factor ☺ It wasn’t that his (or our) life was particularly charmed - we were married young and had plenty of stresses in our 20s that many people would see as bad luck (e.g. three years after we were married, his mom passed away in her 50s from a rare blood disease). Matt just didn’t dwell on the negative and he really believed there wasn’t any way he could fail. A few weeks ago, I came across this quote and I know it’s something Matt would have embraced because it’s basically his McAdams Factor. He really lived life believing that everything was rigged in his favor and that optimistic approach to life allowed him to have a marvelous journey in his 45 years here. I’m trying to impart this same sense of optimism in our kids and trying to embrace this philosophy in my own life (sometimes hard for my overly-analytical self). I think the most successful people are those who believe they have their own personal version of the McAdams Factor - whether it’s their faith or just their personal philosophy, those who approach life and its challenges with optimism are happier and have more success. If you get a chance today, please share a story or memory of Matt. The kids and I love reading these and knowing that other people are thinking about him too. Thanks to everyone who has helped us so much over the last year - we’re so grateful for all of you.

Jen & Family,
I was at the DI tournament downtown yesterday and was having a coffee and thinking about Matt. Last year at the tournament was the last time I saw him. I remember having a random and of course entertaining conversation with him. As I was sitting there thinking about him I looked up and saw you and Luke and your team in orange t'shirts in the distance. Hope yesterday went well. Thinking of all of you!
-Rob Painter

Today, Matt's sweet wife shared the news of his passing with me. I can't believe I didn't know and it's been almost a year. I was both shocked and saddened by the news. I worked with Matt in a couple of different capacities and always admired his kindness and brilliance. He was just one of those guys that you liked and trusted right away. I'm sure the ripple effect of his passing was huge given the person he was... My deepest condolences to his friends and family.

Thinking of all of you around Matt's birthday and DI. I remember seeing Matt at DI State last year and getting a big bear hug from him. I was running around doing things and didn't get a chance to have a real conversation with him, obviously having no idea it would be the last time I would see him. When I picture him from that day his smile stands out to me more than anything else. I think it was his "I am happy to be here with my family" smile. 

I love you all.

Love, Francesca

I was reading through the comments here on Matt's birthday and just saw the spoof video that Jen posted on May 7. OMG, that is classic. Thanks for sharing, Jen.

Today, I opened the HMC alumni magazine to learn that Matt died almost a year ago. I met Matt in a theoretical mechanics course. Every time Matt said something in class, our soft-spoken professor, Tom Helliwell, made his “I’m impressed” face. Later that year, Matt and I acted in a Shakespeare play together. He was Ferdinand, the young hunky love interest of Miranda, in “The Tempest.” I got to know Matt a little bit better when I tried to run track and cross-country. Matt mildly frightened me in those days. He was confident, funny, and gregarious, very much the sharp-tongued wit of the runner community. And as an athlete, I was an embarrassment. (If I recall correctly, Matt’s father was in the stands on the day I was lapped in the 1500 meters.) Fortunately, Matt’s personality was one of relentless encouragement. My fondest memories of college are of the camaraderie after early morning training. Matt did once convince me that the USCD track on which was I was about to run was 500 meters, rather than the standard 400. The last time I saw Matt, I was working at a cell phone outfit, but thinking of quitting and going to graduate school. I was worried about graduate course work after a year away from school. Matt gave me a short pep-talk. He told me that Harvey Mudd had trained us well, passing his qualifier at Illinois was no big deal, and he was confident that things would turn out OK for me in graduate school. And so they did. I wish I could thank him for that.

Konrad Lehnert

Reading the responses it's clear that Matt touched so many lives. I am struck by how deeply involved he was with his kids from Scouts to swim team to coaching soccer. A sign of a very good family man. What a loss.

I knew Matt in college. He was always a ham making us laugh at five-college parties with his goofy dance moves. I remember he did great impressions. Matt and his Mudd buddies along with my friends at Scripps had a crazy time in Mexico one year.

My heart goes out to Jen, Abbie, and Luke. Know that you will be in my prayers.

Matt was a great person. Smart, funny and energetic. He will certainly be missed.

Just heard the very sad news today about Matt's passing. I met Matt in Miami just after he had founded League Link. I loved his energy and bold statements about how big League Link was going to be. He was truly a very gifted communicator and salesman. Matt helped me persuade a profitable software company to merge with our non-profit Internet company AFTER the dot com bubble had burst at the end of 2000.

I always remember leaving that first merger discussion in a snowy Chicago, in a taxi, and there was a huge question on whether our company, Active.com, would make it through the winter. While most people would be worried, Matt just looked over at me and said "the cool thing is no matter what happens, we're always going to be able to say we were right in the middle of all the dot com craziness negotiating multi-million dollar investments and mergers."

He always saw the positive in everything and was one of the smartest and funniest guys I've ever worked with. Matt could always fire back the most hilarious comments at a moment's notice. I never got to meet Matt's kids, but they should grow up knowing their dad was a very special person who touched a lot of people's lives and will live forever in all our memories.

I have known Matt since junior high, and became better friends with him over the course of high school. It was a lovely, moving, at times funny, memorial service on Saturday. I appreciate those who addressed those assembled with their memories of Matt. Everything that was said was so true, and I would have been surprised if the comments were anything other than what was said. I experienced so much of what was remarked on - Matt's massive intelligence, his competitiveness, his goofy (and contagious) sense of humor, but also his immense compassion. The only problem I can see is that we had to hear those words decades too early! The world is definitely worse for his having departed it. Jen, Abbie, & Luke, your husband/dad was a tremendous guy, and you have my deepest sympathies.

Dear McAdams Family,

We are terribly sorry for your loss. Although we only knew Matt for the past several months, he was always a pleasure to work with. Prior to meeting Matt and Woodridge software, we were ready to begin work with another company. Matt reached out and asked for the chance to earn our business. It was clear from that phone call that Matt cared deeply for his employees and was committed to our success. A week later we signed with Woodridge. We immediately knew we were in good hands. 

In honor of Matt, we have made a contribution to his children’s college fund. We will keep you in our thoughts.

Tom, Danielle, Sam, Kay, Carol, and Lance
The ROIC analytics Team

Matt and I started working together in July 2006; my daughter Ella had been born in June. In December, Ella needed surgery. That’s the first time I really got to see what a caring and solid friend Matt was. When Annie and I got home from the hospital with Ella, we had a care package from Matt on our front porch, including a gift card to the restaurant 2 blocks away, so we wouldn’t have to worry about dinner that night. I have a hard time typing this out or even thinking about how kind he was, trying to come to grips that he’s gone. That was just the beginning of his acts of kindness. When I told him a couple of years later that Ella had 2 friends who were imaginary elephants, he bought her the book Emma and Kate. I’ve always remembered to pull that book off the shelf every few months and read it with Ella and her sister Jane, and I always give full credit to Matt. I have too many stories of Matt’s kindness and patience, like the time we went to Silicon Valley to pitch an investor on December 21st, only to realize that I had accidentally booked our return flight for the correct date but a year away… Matt calmly went into scramble mode, as we kept running into airlines telling us that there were no available tickets to get us home that day, or the next. We ended up finding a flight home, and barely made it. But Matt never complained or criticized. Fast forward to 2015, we had scheduled a happy hour get together on Monday, April 27th. It’s one of the saddest things I’ve ever been through to watch that calendar event come and go. But I’m also really glad that we had that scheduled, and I’ll never forget Matt on that date and time each year. He was the best dad, husband and cofounder, and I can’t come close to describing how much I learned from him.

Jen, Abbie, and Luke, we are so sorry for your loss. I will always remember Matt at the swim meets with timer around his neck, collecting and organizing times all with a warm smile and encouraging eyes. You were all the love of his life!

The Lundeen Family: John, Donna, Lauren, Natalie, and Abby

I first met Matt about 2 years ago when my company was looking for a software firm to create a data intensive website for a new healthcare startup we were planning on launching. I loved working with Matt not only for his professionalism, but for his ability to understand what it was we were trying to accomplish. It's not very often that you run into a programmer who also understands the reality of the business world, but this was Matt and he was amazing.

I remember many times posing an idea to Matt and he would say, "That's great, but what if we tried to do it this way, that way the customer could have an easier experience accessing the data." He always posed new ideas in a way that was never offensive and I always felt he wanted what was in our best interest 100% of the time.

Matt was also a man of his word. If there was a dispute on something in regard to billing or a misunderstanding on a concept, he was very willing to patiently work through the issue and always put us as the customer first.

I didn't know Matt on a spiritual level, but I could tell there was something special about Matt from the first day I met him. He always treated us and his employees with dignity and respect, and loved collaborating with people. Even though I only worked with him for two years, I considered him a person that I could deeply trust. He was an incredible man and will be deeply missed by the entire Veritas Healthcare Management team. I know that without a doubt we would never have been able to get the website to be what it is today without his business savvy, his quick wit, and his great dedication to us as the customer. We miss you, Matt!

I only met Matt on four or five occasions but he had a way of making me feel as though we had been friends for a long time. He was kind and gentle and I will never forget his child like sense of wonder and amazement when he created something new.He had a gigantic intellect and an even bigger heart. The team at Veritas will really miss him.

I have been in forum with Matt for about 4 years and will miss him greatly! He could always make us laugh with his witty jokes and stories. His intellect and complete sense of delight in who he was were inspirational. Abbie and Luke, I hope that pride in being yourself is something he passed on to you.

I was stunned to hear this news...unbelievable to think he is gone. I met Matt in 2000 or 2001 through EO (YEO at the time). We went through forum training together which involved an entire day of sharing and getting to know each other intimately. Over the years we would periodically get together for lunches, see each other at EO events etc. He was such a smart person who was incredibly down to earth with an unbelievable entrepreneurial mind and one of the friendliest people I've ever met. Layered on top of all his great qualities was a clever sense of dry humor many people wouldn't get. Loved that about him as well as the fact he always seemed to be wearing tennis shoes! +Steve

Matt was a rare breed. With the quickest quip, he could dispel the mundane to reveal the warmth, humor and inner workings of the world. I will never forget our physics test on the steps of your first Denver home. I lost $1 to him betting that his five-gallon jug of water wouldn't break as he heaved it off the porch . . . .

I met Matt during our first year of grad school at the Univ of Illinois and we immediately hit it off as we had a couple of things in common. For one, we liked to make fun of the physics geeks in our first year class (of course we were the super cool physics grad students). More importantly, we had girlfriends for whom we quickly realized we wanted to transfer from Illinois after our first year - he back to the West Coast and me to the East Coast. In particular, Matt was always bragging about this awesome girl named Jen that he knew he would someday marry :) .

I have so many memories of Matt from Illinois, but some of the main images that come to mind are: Runner’s World, Minnesota Vikings, phone calls with girlfriends, Newsweek, sugar cookies, running/swimming, last minute homework, Republicans, stories about Harvey Mudd and Claremont McKenna, him passing the Qual Exam as a 1st year (unheard of), dreams about starting businesses, and dressing up as Wayne and Garth from Wayne’s World for Halloween (he was hysterical as Garth). We developed a lifelong friendship in that one year at Illinois. 

We stayed in close touch thereafter and a few years later ended up marrying our girlfriends (Matt was right – both about Jen being awesome and him marrying her!) . Despite being poor grad students we flew across country to attend each others weddings – memories of him sleeping in the tiny closet of our apartment and us staying in a Cal Tech dorm room (still not sure how he arranged that). Then came finishing up our theses, sharing ideas for inventions/businesses (his were always better), swapping BCG and McKinsey case interviews, and exchanging stories and details about our startups and how we just missed the bubble.

One conversation we had about our ventures that has always stuck with me is that after I said I was hoping mine would be successful enough so that I could retire a bit early he said he wanted an exit that enabled him to buy an island! In other words, why think small when you can think big.

A consummate entrepreneur, a dedicated husband, and a loving and proud father,
Matt was one of the most unique, impressive, and special people I have known – outgoing, brilliant, goofy, genuine, confident, caring, brutally honest, principled, inspiring, and funny. 

Abbie and Luke, please know that your dad will always be with you as he has certainly passed along many of his incredible gifts to you.

With prayers and deepest sympathies,

Chris Koeppen

I ran cross country and track with Matt for two years at CMS, we put in a lot of miles together on group runs. Among his comedic talents was the ability to imitate the form of anyone on the team. I specifically remember Matt (then a freshman) doing a spot-on running impression of one of our senior runners that left the rest of us in stitches. Always the joker, and never afraid to step on toes in a humorous way.

Jen, I am so sorry for your loss, my thoughts are with you and your children. May your memory of Matt and his aspirations be a source of strength as you continue raising the family you created together.

Jen, Abby & Luke,
I was so shocked to hear of Matt's passing. The community has lost one of its very best. During the times we worked together, he spoke about you, Jen, and the children. You could tell he loved all of you very much and spoke with such pride and admiration for his family. He was so intelligent, and challenged my mind. His personality made you feel at ease and his quick wit kept you laughing. Everyone whose life he touched was blessed to have known him. Your children are such shining examples of the great job that both of you did in raising them. They will always be a constant reminder of his love and influence on them.

No one can prepare you for a loss; it comes like a swift wind. My deepest sympathy is with you and your family at this very sad and difficult time. My thoughts and prayers are with you all.

I have always found solace in poetry, when I have lost those dear to me. Perhaps, this poem will provide some type of peace. In sympathy, Susie Love

"IF TEARS COULD BUILD A STAIRWAY"
If tears could build a stairway,
and memories a lane.
I would walk right up to Heaven
and bring you back again.

No farewell words were spoken,
No time to say "Goodbye".
You were gone before I knew it,
and only God knows why.

My heart still aches with sadness,
and secret tears still flow.
What it meant to love you -
No one can ever know.

But now I know you want me
to mourn for you no more;
To remember all the happy times
life still has much in store.

Since you'll never be forgotten,
I pledge to you today~
A hollowed place within my heart
is where you'll always stay.

Author: Unknown

Jen and family,
Matt seemed to transmit a contagious zest for life. He always showed a desire to make a difference by getting it right, even to the smallest detail. He took the saying "a pleasure to do business with you" to a new level. We loved the privilege of partnering with Woodridge! In the months ahead, be assured the Veritas team's prayers and thoughts will be with you.
Sincerely, ernie

Jen, Abbie and Luke. I knew Matt through "Forum 7" from Entrepreneur's Organization". I absolutely loved his wit, intelligence and the boldness of thinking. Our group actually named a concept after Matt called "The McAdams Factor". Simply put it meant that you could do whatever you set your mind to." Matt was a shining example of that. We share our deepest condolences to your family. - Peter Murane

This is devastating news, and a true loss.

Jen, Abbie, Luke: I am so sadden by Matt's passing. I absolutely admire Matt's love of life, his wit and intellectual curiosity. He's a real rocket scientist with a keen gift for expressing the complex in simple terms. He is also an engaged, loving family man. I enjoyed working with Matt and recall the visits to your home with fondness. He touched my life and I treasure the memories.

Jen, Abbie and Luke,
We are so sorry to hear about Matt's passing. Please accept our sincerest condolences. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

The Foster's
Jim, Suzanne & Jessi

To Matt's Family - This news was heart-wrenching. We pray for you as you deal with this loss. We knew Matt for many years dating back to one of his early start-ups, LeagueLink. Over the years, we stayed in touch and ALWAYS enjoyed connecting with him. He was a hard-working, direct, honest and funny person. A tremendous combination that left a mark on this world. He will be greatly missed. God bless, Pritzker Group Venture Capital (JB Pritzker, Chris Girgenti)

I was an early investor in Trackvia and only spent a few evenings with Matt and had some phone/email with him. But, I am just heartbroken by this news. Matt was why I invested in Trackvia and I loved his enthusiasm and humor. It was clear he was an incredible person and I always hoped to work more closely with him in the future. My thoughts go out to his family. You had a great husband/dad who touched people even with just an interaction or two.

This was such a shock. My deepest condolences to Jen and Matt's family. I admired his enthusiasm and intelligence and he was always so full of energy and life, it's hard to believe he's gone. He will be dearly missed.