Obituary for Matthew David Harrison
Santa Monica, California
It is with heavy hearts we announce that on the evening of October 28, 2022, Matthew David Harrison, #9, entered eternal rest in Los Angeles, California after his year-long battle with metastasized head and neck cancer. He was surrounded by his family. Matt was born on February 18, 1973, to J. Michael (late) and Mary Harrison. Matthew was predeceased by his sister Patrica Harrison-Stamfli, and he is survived by his siblings, Kate (Mark) Gonnelly, Michael J. (Michele) Harrison, Brian Harrison, Mark (Linda) Harrison, and Christopher (Kate) Harrison, and many nieces, nephews and cousins. He was a 1991 graduate of Mechanicville High School and attended Sacred Heart University, where he was a starting safety in the first year of the school’s football program. Matthew left college early to pursue his love of acting, a love ignited at Saint Paul’s Elementary school in the 1980s, nourished at Mechanicville High School and Studio 9 in the early 1990s, cultivated in NYC in the late 1990s and took root in Los Angeles, California from the early 2000s until his passing. Matthew’s love was acting, but his passion was sharing an enthusiasm for life that was contagious. Whether Matthew was on stage, working as a successful producer on network TV and digital commercial campaigns, volunteering at Young Storytellers, working at Carmine’s, taking beautiful landscape photography, or attending any social gathering, he exuded joy, love and passion! He was an avid sports fan, cheering for the NY Giants and Notre Dame football and NY Mets baseball. One of his great joys was participating in his fantasy football league. If you knew him you knew that throughout his life, Matthew was unyielding in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds, he never backed down from a challenge, willing himself to succeed in any venture, and his approach to battling cancer was no different. He followed the mantra “What stands in the way, becomes the way” his entire life. Matthew lived a virtuous, self-disciplined life with unwavering loyalty to those he loved. To steal from Tom Petty, “he had a heart so big, it could crush this town.” His heart was big; it was so big his absence will create a void that can only be filled by recounting and sharing the loving memories we all have of Matthew David Harrison #9. If you knew him, you know he was never afraid of the spotlight, so keep his spirit alive by sharing those stories with family, friends and strangers alike.
A memorial service will be held at the Santa Monica Playhouse, 1211 4th Street Santa Monica, CA Thursday, November 3, 2022 from 3-5pm. Services will be in NY on Saturday, November 12, 2022 at All Saints on the Hudson Church in Mechanicville, NY. Calling hours will be 9:30 to 11:30am, followed by a Mass of the Resurrection.
Donations in Matthew’s memory can be made to Young Storytellers Santa Monica,CA at www.youngstorytellers.com or Stand Up To Ccancer at www.standuptocancer.org
To leave condolences, directions or to post a photo, visit www.devito-salvadorefh.com
It is with heavy hearts we announce that on the evening of October 28, 2022, Matthew David Harrison, #9, entered eternal rest in Los Angeles, California after his year-long battle with metastasized head and neck cancer. He was surrounded by his family. Matt was born on February 18, 1973, to J. Michael (late) and Mary Harrison. Matthew was predeceased by his sister Patrica Harrison-Stamfli, and he is survived by his siblings, Kate (Mark) Gonnelly, Michael J. (Michele) Harrison, Brian Harrison, Mark (Linda) Harrison, and Christopher (Kate) Harrison, and many nieces, nephews and cousins. He was a 1991 graduate of Mechanicville High School and attended Sacred Heart University, where he was a starting safety in the first year of the school’s football program. Matthew left college early to pursue his love of acting, a love ignited at Saint Paul’s Elementary school in the 1980s, nourished at Mechanicville High School and Studio 9 in the early 1990s, cultivated in NYC in the late 1990s and took root in Los Angeles, California from the early 2000s until his passing. Matthew’s love was acting, but his passion was sharing an enthusiasm for life that was contagious. Whether Matthew was on stage, working as a successful producer on network TV and digital commercial campaigns, volunteering at Young Storytellers, working at Carmine’s, taking beautiful landscape photography, or attending any social gathering, he exuded joy, love and passion! He was an avid sports fan, cheering for the NY Giants and Notre Dame football and NY Mets baseball. One of his great joys was participating in his fantasy football league. If you knew him you knew that throughout his life, Matthew was unyielding in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds, he never backed down from a challenge, willing himself to succeed in any venture, and his approach to battling cancer was no different. He followed the mantra “What stands in the way, becomes the way” his entire life. Matthew lived a virtuous, self-disciplined life with unwavering loyalty to those he loved. To steal from Tom Petty, “he had a heart so big, it could crush this town.” His heart was big; it was so big his absence will create a void that can only be filled by recounting and sharing the loving memories we all have of Matthew David Harrison #9. If you knew him, you know he was never afraid of the spotlight, so keep his spirit alive by sharing those stories with family, friends and strangers alike.
A memorial service will be held at the Santa Monica Playhouse, 1211 4th Street Santa Monica, CA Thursday, November 3, 2022 from 3-5pm. Services will be in NY on Saturday, November 12, 2022 at All Saints on the Hudson Church in Mechanicville, NY. Calling hours will be 9:30 to 11:30am, followed by a Mass of the Resurrection.
Donations in Matthew’s memory can be made to Young Storytellers Santa Monica,CA at www.youngstorytellers.com or Stand Up To Ccancer at www.standuptocancer.org
To leave condolences, directions or to post a photo, visit www.devito-salvadorefh.com