It has been said that the lights that burn the brightest and the hottest are the first to go out. Anyone who knew Matt saw that white-hot flame in him. Despite his health issues, which he never dwelt upon and seldom even spoke of, I never remembered him as anything but positive and upbeat, someone whose frenetic zeal revealed a person you just naturally gravitated toward. He was enthusiastic about everything, always engaging and nearly never at a loss for words. He was naturally funny, and onstage he was absolutely fearless (most of the time offstage, too). The man truly had kaboodles of charisma and charm.
He was actually quite brilliant but never beat anyone over the head with his intellect, in fact he could play the buffoon if the situation demanded (emphasis on the word “play”). Blessed with the ability to read people like a book (it must’ve skipped a generation) he could make anyone like him, or at least talk to him. It was a gift. And normally he didn’t use that talent in any self-aggrandizing way; rather he used it as a tool to put people at ease and to lift others up.
Case in point: Once, on his way to a family event in Westminster he was running late, and was pulled over by a State Trooper doing 95 mph on I-795. He had to sit for a while but ended up with a warning. A warning!! Like I said, it was a gift.
In a lot of ways Matt was wise beyond his years. I think he may have been born in the wrong decade, because he had a perennial “hippie” style attitude of peace and love in all things, but without the great unwashed attributes. He could appear to be flighty, but in truth he was simply filled with wonder and inquisitive about anything and everything, and had that enviable ability to absorb and retain all sensory input like a sponge.
If you knew Matt, count yourself lucky. Sadly, I missed out on a great portion of his life, and was tickled to have reconnected with him several years ago. Even more so by having the pride and pleasure of performing with him on several occasions.
I count another bright star in heaven, son.