17/03/2025
Dear Friends of Matt,
I hope you’re all well. I’ve been meaning to reach out to say hello and begin a conversation about how we might come together to honour Matthew’s memory meaningfully this year on what would have been his 50th birthday.
Life moves fast. Responsibilities pile up, and it becomes harder to hold space for everyone and everything. No matter how much we love Matt, we must be intentional in remembering him. Whether through small gestures or significant acts, remembering is an act of love.
Some of you may already know about the Rogers Park Artists of the Wall, an annual Father’s Day weekend tradition (https://www.loyolapark.org/aotw/). With Sophia’s blessing, I will register a panel in Matthew’s name for this year’s event. The panel will create a public space—not just for us but, most importantly, for his children—a place they can visit to remember him, especially in this milestone year.
I wanted to create something open, inclusive, and rooted in love—centring Matt’s children while giving space for those who cared for him to contribute. Personally, this carries special significance, as Matt and I once promised to mark our 50th birthdays together. This August would have been both of ours—his falling two weeks after mine. Creating this panel feels like the right way to honor that.
Registration opens May 1-3, with the panel painted over Father’s Day weekend (June 14-15th). I’ve set up a GoFundMe to raise $500 to cover the artist’s time and materials. I’ll cover any additional costs, and if there’s anything left over, I’ll pass it on to Iris. While I may not be in Chicago for Father’s Day weekend (though I’ll try), I’ll be home most of April and plan to meet with Matt’s children, Sophia, Jen, and others. I feel confident we’ll be able to find an artist and sort the details while I’m home before registration opens in May.
Alongside the GoFundMe, I’d love to use this space to collect photos, memories, and ideas for the panel. Once everything’s gathered, I hope you'll agree that the final decision about what appears should rest with Iris, Jonas, Micah, and Lucas—giving them the space and autonomy to decide how they want their father remembered.
Please know there’s absolutely no pressure. Life, grief, health, and family all take priority. Whether or not you can participate, I’m simply glad we each carry Matthew’s memory in our own ways.
That said, I would be truly grateful if you could support this, whether by contributing to the panel or sharing a memory.
I’ll share the GoFundMe link below. Please post any photos, memories, or ideas you have right here in the group.
Thank you all—this community means a lot to me, and I’m grateful to each of you.
https://www.gofundme.com/f/honor-matthews-memory-with-art-in-rogers-park
With love and gratitude,
