I want you to know about Matthew from a mother’s perspective and with my insight from having known and loved him dearly for nearly 39 years,. He was a beautiful and precocious child – I am certain that is no surprise to any of you.
He was graced with a gift for humor and wit (which I so envied) and an amazing capacity for story telling, which he could also put to paper with ease and fluidity.
He was well read beyond anyone I knew and we dueled often together over our knowledge and enjoyment of words and their meaning with the utmost respect and enjoyment. We regularly shared and discussed our favorite books – something I will miss greatly. I can recommend Peace Like a River by Leif Enger – a Minnesota author – from both of us.
He treasured his Richard Ford and Cormac McCarthy books – which may provide insight to another layer of who Matthew was.
He kept his personal pain inside, but he spread a very special – his own form – of joy to so many. He treasured his friends and his colleagues and the young people he worked with at Cuesta more than you can possibly know. And you all brought a special form of delight and reward to him that truly mattered. It was of the utmost importance to Matthew that he make a difference in the lives of others.
In spite of that, I don’t think there is anyone on the face of this earth that he loved more than his brother, Nathan. Together they demonstrate the meaning of love and devotion and were beyond entertaining to those around them.
I know that you all knew that Matthew was an amazingly caring soul. Through my own personal ordeal of the past two years – Matthew was there for me in every way possible – from figuring out how to not faint – his normal reaction – over some rather gory details – to making me laugh out loud when there was very little to laugh about.
I don’t need to tell you that a mother’s love for her children surpasses that of life itself. Matthew has surpassed that love as both a son and a friend. He was a very special child and adult, who has always had a sweet, giving and sensitive heart. In spite of his times of anguish, Matthew wanted to be what he viewed as perfect; as good as he thought he should be and sadly he could not see that to all of us he was.
Children are supposed to outlive their parents – my sorrow is beyond words – but I am blessed – as any of you who know me well know – to have had a closeness and special friendship with this dear man, my first-born son. I will miss him so much. He filled my life with love and I could not have loved him more.
Thank you on behalf of Matthew and his family for being here and for your gift of friendship and love.
In Memory of Matt Aydelott 
I was profoundly saddened by the news of Matthew’s passing. Children should not pass away before their parents, perhaps a selfish feeling on our part. However, when these things happen, the grief must seem overbearing. I know you have the strength and resiliency to move forward. Our thoughts are with you and your family in this sad time. Most sincerely, Christine
Karen,
May God Bless and keep you and your family always!!!!
As I said to Nathan, I was one of those people who had a chance to meet your son. He was truly a wonderful human being. I can’t help recalling the time I said to him: “Mr. Aydelott, this is getting to hard for me. I am a single mom raising two small girls and I can’t do the mom thing and go to school.” Matthew quickly admonished me saying: ” Can’t should never be part of your vocabulary.” I will never forget him as long as I live and my life was deeply enriched by knowing him.
I cannot believe that his time here is up, but as my grandmother always use to tell me: “We love them, but God loves them best.” Please know that you are in my prayers and everything is going to be okay.
Robin
Dear Karen,
It has been a life time away since I saw you last, but maybe you might remember me. You supervised me at the YMCA in SLO around 1995ish. I remember how amazing you were and how you turned around programs that needed saving. I remember how you spoke of both your sons and how special they were to you. I can’t tell you how sad I am that this has happened. I now have three children of my own and I can’t fathom how I would put one foot in front of the other if I were to loose one of them.
I just wanted you to know that I think of you and have thought of you even before I heard about Matt. Amazingly enough I never got to meet Matt. He was a rock star in the social services world, and having worked at EOC for the last seven years I always thought our pathes would cross and I could tell him how much I loved you. I wish I could have had the chance. Big hug from one Mom to another. Love, Holley Volk (Walker)
Matt was a close friend of mine at Fulton Elementary in Minneapolis as a 6th grader. We used to punch each other in the arm a lot being childish I remember. Matt and I used to buy Bubs Daddy gum at Tom Thumb with our tooth fairy and allownace nickles even though Eric Pedersen usually had a backpack full of it. Those are really happy memories. I went to Minnehaha Academy in 7th grade and lost track of my good friends from the neighborhood. Social networking sites had not been invented yet and I wasn’t gifted with the interest in the telephone. Our classmate and friend Margaret McKinnley Owens has been trying to set up a 30 year reunion for our class. I was crushed to learn that Matt wouldn’t be attending. I was so looking forward to reconnecting. Matt was an extrodinary person and world is the worse without him. I am sorry he is gone and it is far to late for me to offer condolences or thoughts. I have always missed Matt’s friendship and am sorry for your loss. I had a daughter last year and I can’t imagine the pain of letting her go. I hope you are well. I will never forget Matt and I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers. SL