26 September 2007

In Memoriam: Matt M.

He came in and checked his email, grinning at us because the weather was nice and he was going out for a scientific dive. It was gorgeous clear, crisp autumn day and he was passionate about diving. I watched him pull on his dry suit in the back parking lot from my office window smiling at his energy his exuberance. Then at noon the call came from his dive partner that he'd gone missing. Work at the office came almost to a complete stop as we monitored the airwaves to listen to the coast guard and the fire department. It didn't sound good. They performed CPR on him all the way back to the harbor and to the hospital. Sometime around 2:30pm he was pronounced dead. Shortly there after I attended the quietest all staff meeting I have ever attended.

Matt was a colleague of mine. He was one of those people who are always infectiously cheerful and full of good humor. He'd just finished his PhD and we had been chatting about his two young boys and whether or not he had plans for his birthday on Thursday. It's hard to believe he's gone and at the same time it's more real than anything else today. Everyone is rather quiet and subdued today. We're all thinking of Matt and of his family. We're all remembering his laughter.

19 comments:

  1. That concept always gets to me...
    how someone can be so vibrant and alive - and then gone all in what seems like the very same second.

    my thoughts are with you all, and to his family.

    and the only other thing I can think of to say is that he was doing something he loved.

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  2. Wow... who knew?

    Best to you.. and him. :)


    Peace,

    ~Chani
    http://thailandgal.blogspot.com

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  3. I'm with tabba - I am shocked when something like this happens, something that reminds us of how really frail we are out in this big wide world.

    My thoughts are with you today~I am so sorry for the loss of someone who sounds like he was a great co-worker and friend.

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  4. Oh, that was heart wrenching. It crushes me when people pass away when doing what they love. Matt sounds like he was an incredible person. Wishing you all in the office, and his young family waves of peace and light.

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  5. I am so very sorry to hear this.

    My deepest sympathies go out to you and all his colleagues and family. Inexplicable tragedy is never easy to deal with, in any way.

    Thursday is my birthday too, I will remember him tomorrow and think of you and his family with a prayer for peace for those who are hurting over his loss.

    Don't these kind of things make you feel like the whole world should just stop and mourn?

    Thank you for sharing it.
    Scarlett

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  6. Reading this made the hair stand up on the back of my neck. The abruptness of it all makes me question mortality. It sounds as if might have had an appreciation for the joys life had to offer and an appetite for adventure to seek it out. May peace find Matt's family, you and your office mates.

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  7. I'm terribly sorry. I lost a colleague more than a year ago and I still think of her, miss her and recall what the world lost when she died. My thoughts are with all of you at work as well as Matt's family.

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  8. I'm so sorry. The sudden departure of someone is always so difficult to accept and understand.
    I hope his family will have all the strength they need.

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  9. Oh Wayfarer, that is SO sad! My thoughts are with all who knew him.

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  10. Oh wayfarer, I'm so sorry to hear about your friend. I'll keep you, your co-workers, and especially his family in my thoughts.

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  11. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and with all of you. Life is so fragile. So often, we forget.

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  12. ws, i'm sorry to hear of your friend's passing. i hope you continue to feel his cheer and humor, and good spirit.

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  13. oh honey...i am so sorry.

    so, so sorry.

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  14. Oh I am so very very sorry for your loss.

    For his family.

    Oh man. That is just so damned sad.

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  15. Wayfarer, so sorry about your loss. My thoughts are will you, your colleagues and Matt's family. Take care.

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