I first met Matt Merchant in Mr. Brenner's seventh grade homeroom. The same room we later had science in, took model building, and learned to play bridge. That was about 42 years ago.
Growing up with Matt, we camped together as boy scouts, learned to drive cars together, we learned how (not) to date girls (even the same girls, you may remember Matt and Alison, and Matt and Allison).
We drove cars way too fast. Someone was watching over us in high school as we both had accidents where the car was pretty banged up, but no one was injured.
I remember "Fred", the code-name for the loft above the Merchant's garage, where we listened to rock-n-roll music, too loud, on a very bad record player.
I remember our senior year of high school. We started M&M Construction, as way to get out of our economics class. We wrote a business plan (very detailed, thanks to Matt). Matt created our logo, we opened a checking account (LLP on Mr. Merchants advice I believe). And we were in business. We painted houses, cleaned gutters, washed windows, completed room additions and renovated low income apartments. Best of all we just hung out together and talked about life.
In the spring of our senior year just the two of us loaded up Matt's Chevy Chevelle (I think) and we drove 600+ miles to Gray Rocks Inn, Saint-Jovite Quebec CAN, for a week of alpine ski lessons and good times. It should have taken over ten hours, we made it in nine despite Matt's two speeding tickets (I had none!).
About six months later I introduced Matt to my future wife, "she's too tall and I don't like blonde hair" was Matt's initial assessment, "otherwise she's OK". Later, obviously he changed his mind about blondes.
When my daughter, Brittany, was born years later I asked Matt to be her Godfather.
Matt's gift to Brittany was two small crystal beer mugs, "because, I don't know anything about kids, but I know about beer."
As some of you know I teach at a Jewish Day School. I've been there ten years and have learned a lot about Jewish traditions, holidays, and views on how we should live our lives.
Each year, as our eighth graders move on to high school we are asked to choose students for specific awards.
The two that come to mind are the Mensch Award and The Coleman Brosilow Award.
Mensch is a Yiddish word defined as "someone to admire and emulate, someone of noble character. The key to being 'a real mensch' is nothing less than character, rectitude, dignity, a sense of what is right, responsible, decorous." A mensch is someone who does good deeds without expectation of reciprocity.
A few years ago my son, Matthew, went on a road trip to NYC. He somehow managed to get his pocket picked and was left penniless.
Unsure of how to get money to my son as quickly as possible I though of Matt. We hadn't spoken in over a year, but I called him. Typical of my friend he said "no worries". Within a few hours Matt met my son in Manhattan and gave him 250 dollars, saying "pay me back when you can, do you need anything else?"
Matt would certainly get my vote for as a true mensch.
Although years went by, when we communicated we were always able to pick up right where we left off, like brothers.
Matt loved to talk about his girls, Marie-Elle, Lilly, Madeline, and of course his wife Ruth. He spoke a little about his fast track in IT at General Electric, and traveling the world; but he talked more about family, working with his church, riding his bike, and of course sailing.
The Coleman Brosilow Award is the other award we present at my school, it is presented to a person who not only has the qualities of a true mensch but exemplifies leadership and excellence in all areas, academic and religious. This awards goes to someone we hold to be a model student, or in this case person.
Matt gets my vote as a model human being and citizen of the world.
I guess you could say I have a man crush, I've always wanted to be more like Matt, I know I fall short, but I a better person for trying.
So, as you drive home this afternoon listen to some Dave Matthews's Band. When you get home go for a bike ride or sailing, if you can, with your kids.
When you have dinner tonight, toast Matt with a single-malt whisky, a nice glass of merlot, a pint of Guinness, or even a cool glass of water.
Oh my. Matt... How much fun we had during our high school days. I knew Matt mostly thru my high school days but after we graduated we went our separate ways. We talked a couple of time afterwards but I lost track of him. Sorry that I missed the opportunity to maintain ties with that wonderful man. Matt N. your comment sums up the man perfectly. And sheds light on how he became so much more involved in his life with family and community, something I didn't know about him. Nice tribute.
My recollection of Matt was super positive. Matt was such a free spirit and so laid back. I don't ever recall seeing him sad, angry, upset. Never. I do remember the times we would get together and have a party with other friends. He was always a positive force with an open and vibrant personality and a laugh that was so infectious. I too really wanted to be more like him.
I have several memories about him and the times we shared but one memory always shines and it is the one story I still tell about him when the right moment arises. It reminds me of his fun and adventurous spirit and his sense of comedy, wanting to make people laugh. I will share it here too.
During our high school days Matt used to help me out with the youth group at St. Dominic's Church and putting on various plays. Matt and I were the guys behind the scenes doing the props, lighting, sound, anything technical. But sometimes we were asked to be an extra on the stage.
One year we were performing the classic Rogers and Hammerstein's play "South Pacific" and the director needed some extras to come on stage during the upbeat song "Honey Bun". I had built a dock that ran across the back of the stage that people could enter stage left and right and exit onto center stage rear. About midway during the song the chorus of girls would come dancing across the dock, come up center stage and peel out in the front to the left and right to create a chorus line.
Matt and I were asked to be in the chorus line as well. But Matt thought we could embellish our roles. I was happy to participate. I had acquired two of my mom's bras, a couple of grass skirts and some silly straw hats. We donned the outfits with the bras on top of our shirts and stuffed them as much as we could. During the number we both waited in the wings at the rear. He was stage right, I was stage left.
The song progressed, the girls started pouring onto the stage and Matt and I each entered from the opposite sides some where in the middle of each of the 2 lines of the girls. We timed it just right so we would meet at center dock and walk up center stage together. We both kinda ducked down till we both got to the front of the stage and popped up to make our grand appearance in front of the audience. TA DA! The audience howled with laughter at the sight gag. Matt and I danced our butts off and sang Honey Bun till we ran off the stage with everyone else. We both did that bit for 4 shows and each time it was spectacular with lots of laughs.
That memory will always remind me of him as that fun loving spirit. He was a great friend, not only to me but to all his friends. I felt privileged to have been included in his life and I will cherish that memory of our stage debut as one the "Honey Bunnettes" Chorus line.
Matthew Norton
I first met Matt Merchant in Mr. Brenner's seventh grade homeroom. The same room we later had science in, took model building, and learned to play bridge. That was about 42 years ago.
Growing up with Matt, we camped together as boy scouts, learned to drive cars together, we learned how (not) to date girls (even the same girls, you may remember Matt and Alison, and Matt and Allison).
We drove cars way too fast. Someone was watching over us in high school as we both had accidents where the car was pretty banged up, but no one was injured.
I remember "Fred", the code-name for the loft above the Merchant's garage, where we listened to rock-n-roll music, too loud, on a very bad record player.
I remember our senior year of high school. We started M&M Construction, as way to get out of our economics class. We wrote a business plan (very detailed, thanks to Matt). Matt created our logo, we opened a checking account (LLP on Mr. Merchants advice I believe). And we were in business. We painted houses, cleaned gutters, washed windows, completed room additions and renovated low income apartments. Best of all we just hung out together and talked about life.
In the spring of our senior year just the two of us loaded up Matt's Chevy Chevelle (I think) and we drove 600+ miles to Gray Rocks Inn, Saint-Jovite Quebec CAN, for a week of alpine ski lessons and good times. It should have taken over ten hours, we made it in nine despite Matt's two speeding tickets (I had none!).
About six months later I introduced Matt to my future wife, "she's too tall and I don't like blonde hair" was Matt's initial assessment, "otherwise she's OK". Later, obviously he changed his mind about blondes.
When my daughter, Brittany, was born years later I asked Matt to be her Godfather.
Matt's gift to Brittany was two small crystal beer mugs, "because, I don't know anything about kids, but I know about beer."
As some of you know I teach at a Jewish Day School. I've been there ten years and have learned a lot about Jewish traditions, holidays, and views on how we should live our lives.
Each year, as our eighth graders move on to high school we are asked to choose students for specific awards.
The two that come to mind are the Mensch Award and The Coleman Brosilow Award.
Mensch is a Yiddish word defined as "someone to admire and emulate, someone of noble character. The key to being 'a real mensch' is nothing less than character, rectitude, dignity, a sense of what is right, responsible, decorous." A mensch is someone who does good deeds without expectation of reciprocity.
A few years ago my son, Matthew, went on a road trip to NYC. He somehow managed to get his pocket picked and was left penniless.
Unsure of how to get money to my son as quickly as possible I though of Matt. We hadn't spoken in over a year, but I called him. Typical of my friend he said "no worries". Within a few hours Matt met my son in Manhattan and gave him 250 dollars, saying "pay me back when you can, do you need anything else?"
Matt would certainly get my vote for as a true mensch.
Although years went by, when we communicated we were always able to pick up right where we left off, like brothers.
Matt loved to talk about his girls, Marie-Elle, Lilly, Madeline, and of course his wife Ruth. He spoke a little about his fast track in IT at General Electric, and traveling the world; but he talked more about family, working with his church, riding his bike, and of course sailing.
The Coleman Brosilow Award is the other award we present at my school, it is presented to a person who not only has the qualities of a true mensch but exemplifies leadership and excellence in all areas, academic and religious. This awards goes to someone we hold to be a model student, or in this case person.
Matt gets my vote as a model human being and citizen of the world.
I guess you could say I have a man crush, I've always wanted to be more like Matt, I know I fall short, but I a better person for trying.
So, as you drive home this afternoon listen to some Dave Matthews's Band. When you get home go for a bike ride or sailing, if you can, with your kids.
When you have dinner tonight, toast Matt with a single-malt whisky, a nice glass of merlot, a pint of Guinness, or even a cool glass of water.
Susan Saltzman (Palmer)
Thank you Matt N - what a beautifullly written memorial to Matt M.
John Makley
Oh my. Matt... How much fun we had during our high school days. I knew Matt mostly thru my high school days but after we graduated we went our separate ways. We talked a couple of time afterwards but I lost track of him. Sorry that I missed the opportunity to maintain ties with that wonderful man. Matt N. your comment sums up the man perfectly. And sheds light on how he became so much more involved in his life with family and community, something I didn't know about him. Nice tribute.
My recollection of Matt was super positive. Matt was such a free spirit and so laid back. I don't ever recall seeing him sad, angry, upset. Never. I do remember the times we would get together and have a party with other friends. He was always a positive force with an open and vibrant personality and a laugh that was so infectious. I too really wanted to be more like him.
I have several memories about him and the times we shared but one memory always shines and it is the one story I still tell about him when the right moment arises. It reminds me of his fun and adventurous spirit and his sense of comedy, wanting to make people laugh. I will share it here too.
During our high school days Matt used to help me out with the youth group at St. Dominic's Church and putting on various plays. Matt and I were the guys behind the scenes doing the props, lighting, sound, anything technical. But sometimes we were asked to be an extra on the stage.
One year we were performing the classic Rogers and Hammerstein's play "South Pacific" and the director needed some extras to come on stage during the upbeat song "Honey Bun". I had built a dock that ran across the back of the stage that people could enter stage left and right and exit onto center stage rear. About midway during the song the chorus of girls would come dancing across the dock, come up center stage and peel out in the front to the left and right to create a chorus line.
Matt and I were asked to be in the chorus line as well. But Matt thought we could embellish our roles. I was happy to participate. I had acquired two of my mom's bras, a couple of grass skirts and some silly straw hats. We donned the outfits with the bras on top of our shirts and stuffed them as much as we could. During the number we both waited in the wings at the rear. He was stage right, I was stage left.
The song progressed, the girls started pouring onto the stage and Matt and I each entered from the opposite sides some where in the middle of each of the 2 lines of the girls. We timed it just right so we would meet at center dock and walk up center stage together. We both kinda ducked down till we both got to the front of the stage and popped up to make our grand appearance in front of the audience. TA DA! The audience howled with laughter at the sight gag. Matt and I danced our butts off and sang Honey Bun till we ran off the stage with everyone else. We both did that bit for 4 shows and each time it was spectacular with lots of laughs.
That memory will always remind me of him as that fun loving spirit. He was a great friend, not only to me but to all his friends. I felt privileged to have been included in his life and I will cherish that memory of our stage debut as one the "Honey Bunnettes" Chorus line.
God bless you Matt.