• Hello, my name is Greg Larson, and Matt was a dear friend of mine. I am truly honored to speak to you about our relationship. My wife, Susan, is also here, and she has known Matt nearly as long as I have.
• I recognize that many of you knew Matt in different contexts from mine, including as colleagues and as former students, but I knew Matt as a friend and classmate. I think the stories I share today will resonate with you no matter what your relationship was with him.
• I first met Matt during Middle School, but did not really get to know him well until we were both Freshmen in High School.
• We bonded over a shared love of Basketball, both playing it and watching it. It sounds a little Nerdy, but we had a core group, including Mark Mortimer, who is also here today, that played basketball during lunch on the outdoor courts at our school whenever the weather permitted. We were certain to go into our Fifth Period classes burning hot and dripping with sweat. We might have stunk... Read more a little bit too.
• Even after we graduated, we still found opportunities to play basketball together, sometimes on the same outdoor courts at our old school, and even at night under the dim lights from the Tennis Courts at Miller Park in Fair Oaks. Best to keep your wits about you during those games, as it was challenging to see the ball in the dim light before it hit you in the face!
• Matt used to gather up a group of student ID’s from around his Dorm and sneak our crew into the UC Davis Rec Hall to play there. I also remember playing Intermural basketball at UC Davis, even though I was not a student there, again with someone else’s ID. The competition at UCD was stiff!
• Our same group played in the Fair Oaks Parks and Rec Sunday night basketball league for many years, including Matt’s Dad, George, and Teri’s brother, John. I thought it was so cool that Matt got the chance to play on the same team with his father, and when Matt told me that he was playing in a rec league with his own son, I said that his father would have been proud of him.
• As you all know, Matt was wicked smart at Math. It took me until my Senior year in high school to catch up to him, when we finally shared a Calculus class together. He was also a prodigy at card games, and I remember how he patiently tried to teach me how to play Bridge. Unfortunately, I was not smart enough to learn it though, so he settled for teaching me how to play Pinochle instead. I still play Pinochle literally every day on my computer, so thanks, Matt!
• I also remember playing card games at Shirley and George’s house during high school and as a young adult, often until the wee hours of the morning. Who here has played “Nert” or “Oh Hell” with Matt? I also remember playing card games all night long, and then riding with George and Matt up to the Truckee River near South Lake Tahoe to fish on the opening day of trout season. That was crazy!
• I was in Teri and Matt’s wedding in 1979, he was in our wedding in 1980. I look back at the photos, and I wonder how kids that young were even allowed to be married. I guess we both figured it out as we went along though.
• When our children were young, we made a tradition of attending the UC Davis Picnic Day each year, and we looked forward to it. After all, where else can you see a Kazoo marching band, a cow with a hole on its stomach, and wiener dog races all in one place? We always ended the day with a barbeque at Teri and Matt’s place, and played cards after the kids fell asleep.
• As our kids all grew, Matt and I had fewer opportunities to get together. Our family was sucked into the swirling vortex known as youth Soccer, which occupied most of our free time almost year-round. I know that Teri and Matt were very involved in it too. However, when we did get together, it was as if we had just seen each other last week, when in fact it might have been months or even years. That is the true measure of a friendship.
• Matt’s sudden death has struck me hard, and I’m struggling to process it. Not having a chance to say goodbye to him bothers me a lot, and has caused me to consider my own mortality. The World Cup of Football is coming to the US in two years, and my sons have been bugging me about getting tickets to some of the matches at Levi Stadium. I find myself wondering if I will even be around then, which is not something that I ever would have considered until now.
• My friend Matt deserved a far better fate than the one that he was dealt, but we don’t get to choose the cards in life that we receive. I’ll leave you with some words to consider on your own: Yesterday is a memory, and today is a blessing; however, tomorrow is but a gift that is yet to be given. Please do not take that gift for granted, and I urge you to hug your children and grandchildren today and tell them that you love them. We all miss you, Matt!
• Thank you for your kind attention. Read less

• Hello, my name is Greg Larson, and Matt was a dear friend of mine. I am truly honored to speak to you about our relationship. My wife, Susan, is also here, and she has known Matt nearly as long as I have.
• I recognize that many of you knew Matt in different contexts from mine, including as colleagues and as former students, but I knew Matt as a friend and classmate. I think the stories I share today will resonate with you no matter what your relationship was with him.
• I first met Matt ... Read moreduring Middle School, but did not really get to know him well until we were both Freshmen in High School.
• We bonded over a shared love of Basketball, both playing it and watching it. It sounds a little Nerdy, but we had a core group, including Mark Mortimer, who is also here today, that played basketball during lunch on the outdoor courts at our school whenever the weather permitted. We were certain to go into our Fifth Period classes burning hot and dripping with sweat. We might have stunk a little bit too.
• Even after we graduated, we still found opportunities to play basketball together, sometimes on the same outdoor courts at our old school, and even at night under the dim lights from the Tennis Courts at Miller Park in Fair Oaks. Best to keep your wits about you during those games, as it was challenging to see the ball in the dim light before it hit you in the face!
• Matt used to gather up a group of student ID’s from around his Dorm and sneak our crew into the UC Davis Rec Hall to play there. I also remember playing Intermural basketball at UC Davis, even though I was not a student there, again with someone else’s ID. The competition at UCD was stiff!
• Our same group played in the Fair Oaks Parks and Rec Sunday night basketball league for many years, including Matt’s Dad, George, and Teri’s brother, John. I thought it was so cool that Matt got the chance to play on the same team with his father, and when Matt told me that he was playing in a rec league with his own son, I said that his father would have been proud of him.
• As you all know, Matt was wicked smart at Math. It took me until my Senior year in high school to catch up to him, when we finally shared a Calculus class together. He was also a prodigy at card games, and I remember how he patiently tried to teach me how to play Bridge. Unfortunately, I was not smart enough to learn it though, so he settled for teaching me how to play Pinochle instead. I still play Pinochle literally every day on my computer, so thanks, Matt!
• I also remember playing card games at Shirley and George’s house during high school and as a young adult, often until the wee hours of the morning. Who here has played “Nert” or “Oh Hell” with Matt? I also remember playing card games all night long, and then riding with George and Matt up to the Truckee River near South Lake Tahoe to fish on the opening day of trout season. That was crazy!
• I was in Teri and Matt’s wedding in 1979, he was in our wedding in 1980. I look back at the photos, and I wonder how kids that young were even allowed to be married. I guess we both figured it out as we went along though.
• When our children were young, we made a tradition of attending the UC Davis Picnic Day each year, and we looked forward to it. After all, where else can you see a Kazoo marching band, a cow with a hole on its stomach, and wiener dog races all in one place? We always ended the day with a barbeque at Teri and Matt’s place, and played cards after the kids fell asleep.
• As our kids all grew, Matt and I had fewer opportunities to get together. Our family was sucked into the swirling vortex known as youth Soccer, which occupied most of our free time almost year-round. I know that Teri and Matt were very involved in it too. However, when we did get together, it was as if we had just seen each other last week, when in fact it might have been months or even years. That is the true measure of a friendship.
• Matt’s sudden death has struck me hard, and I’m struggling to process it. Not having a chance to say goodbye to him bothers me a lot, and has caused me to consider my own mortality. The World Cup of Football is coming to the US in two years, and my sons have been bugging me about getting tickets to some of the matches at Levi Stadium. I find myself wondering if I will even be around then, which is not something that I ever would have considered until now.
• My friend Matt deserved a far better fate than the one that he was dealt, but we don’t get to choose the cards in life that we receive. I’ll leave you with some words to consider on your own: Yesterday is a memory, and today is a blessing; however, tomorrow is but a gift that is yet to be given. Please do not take that gift for granted, and I urge you to hug your children and grandchildren today and tell them that you love them. We all miss you, Matt!
• Thank you for your kind attention. Read less

Matt was my first friend at WCC. We met in 2008. My first memory of him – well, if I’m honest my first memory was a guy in a math tie with a mullet – but before I even knew his name or his role on campus, I already knew he was a special kind of person. Matt was on my hiring committee, and during my teaching demo, he was the only one to play along and pretend to be a student. Without him I would not have made it through that interview, and I wouldn’t be here today.

I’m not wearing my math T-shirt today, but I am wearing blue because Matt always liked blue, and because it is Diane’s favorite color, and because Matt gave me one of the strangest compliments once: He said I look “friendly” in blue. And ever since then, whenever I serve on a hiring committee, I remember his friendly face during my interview, and I always wear blue.

I really can’t imagine what my life would be without his influence. He has been a rock, a steady source of inspiration, motivation, comfort, and protection... Read more in my life, through births and losses, career successes and frustrations. I will think of him every time I set foot on this campus, or plant a native flower, or wear a pair of Converse, or see a Venn diagram – the list goes on and on.

My predecessor Judy Bean said to me before I started, “If you need anything, go to Matt Clark. He is an honorable man.” Judy, I never got to thank you for that advice. Needless to say, I followed it. I asked Matt to serve on my tenure committee. The very first time he observed my class, I told myself, “Nili, you can be yourself, but just don’t drop any F-bombs in front of Matt.” And wouldn’t you know, the very first sentence out of my mouth, I dropped the F bomb. I will never forget Matt’s expression – I’d describe it as gleeful astonishment. If you’re wondering if he wrote about it in my evaluation, he did. He said I used “engaging language” to keep the students interested. He was just that kind of guy.
Matt was a mentor to me, as he was to almost every faculty member at WCC, and to my never-ending gratitude and delight, he quickly became one of my dearest friends. As we got to know each other better, he would joke that I wouldn’t look up to him anymore. But our closeness never took away from my admiration for him; it only gave me more reasons to love him fiercely.

Since almost the day I met him, Matt was always my hero. He was unfailingly kind, unfathomably generous, unbelievably brilliant. He was deeply dedicated to his students. Whenever I was having a tough day at work, he would remind me that I’d feel better once I got into the classroom – and he was ALWAYS right. The classroom was his happy place at work. He told me several times over the years that he never wanted to stop teaching; he said he wanted to “die in the classroom” – but he was always careful to add, “not literally – that would be bad for students.”

Matt truly loved teaching, but he had room in his heart for so much more. His greatest love, of course, was his family. The most emotional I’ve ever seen him – whether it was excitement, worry, pride, or joy – was always when he was talking about Teri, Diane, Ryan, and of course Amara. I can’t talk about Matt’s capacious heart without acknowledging how generous his family is to have shared him with us.

Matt left us too soon.

When Matt felt strongly about something, he’d always say, “Period. End of story.” But this isn’t the end of his story. His legacy will live on in all of us whose lives he touched. The world will always be a place that felt the presence of this extraordinary man. We can’t fill his shoes, but we will continue to walk in his footsteps. Read less

Matt was my first friend at WCC. We met in 2008. My first memory of him – well, if I’m honest my first memory was a guy in a math tie with a mullet – but before I even knew his name or his role on campus, I already knew he was a special kind of person. Matt was on my hiring committee, and during my teaching demo, he was the only one to play along and pretend to be a student. Without him I would not have made it through that interview, and I wouldn’t be here today.

I’m not wearing my math T-shirt... Read more today, but I am wearing blue because Matt always liked blue, and because it is Diane’s favorite color, and because Matt gave me one of the strangest compliments once: He said I look “friendly” in blue. And ever since then, whenever I serve on a hiring committee, I remember his friendly face during my interview, and I always wear blue.

I really can’t imagine what my life would be without his influence. He has been a rock, a steady source of inspiration, motivation, comfort, and protection in my life, through births and losses, career successes and frustrations. I will think of him every time I set foot on this campus, or plant a native flower, or wear a pair of Converse, or see a Venn diagram – the list goes on and on.

My predecessor Judy Bean said to me before I started, “If you need anything, go to Matt Clark. He is an honorable man.” Judy, I never got to thank you for that advice. Needless to say, I followed it. I asked Matt to serve on my tenure committee. The very first time he observed my class, I told myself, “Nili, you can be yourself, but just don’t drop any F-bombs in front of Matt.” And wouldn’t you know, the very first sentence out of my mouth, I dropped the F bomb. I will never forget Matt’s expression – I’d describe it as gleeful astonishment. If you’re wondering if he wrote about it in my evaluation, he did. He said I used “engaging language” to keep the students interested. He was just that kind of guy.
Matt was a mentor to me, as he was to almost every faculty member at WCC, and to my never-ending gratitude and delight, he quickly became one of my dearest friends. As we got to know each other better, he would joke that I wouldn’t look up to him anymore. But our closeness never took away from my admiration for him; it only gave me more reasons to love him fiercely.

Since almost the day I met him, Matt was always my hero. He was unfailingly kind, unfathomably generous, unbelievably brilliant. He was deeply dedicated to his students. Whenever I was having a tough day at work, he would remind me that I’d feel better once I got into the classroom – and he was ALWAYS right. The classroom was his happy place at work. He told me several times over the years that he never wanted to stop teaching; he said he wanted to “die in the classroom” – but he was always careful to add, “not literally – that would be bad for students.”

Matt truly loved teaching, but he had room in his heart for so much more. His greatest love, of course, was his family. The most emotional I’ve ever seen him – whether it was excitement, worry, pride, or joy – was always when he was talking about Teri, Diane, Ryan, and of course Amara. I can’t talk about Matt’s capacious heart without acknowledging how generous his family is to have shared him with us.

Matt left us too soon.

When Matt felt strongly about something, he’d always say, “Period. End of story.” But this isn’t the end of his story. His legacy will live on in all of us whose lives he touched. The world will always be a place that felt the presence of this extraordinary man. We can’t fill his shoes, but we will continue to walk in his footsteps. Read less

Hello, I am Melissa. I am one of Matt’s two sisters. And we want to thank you for being here to honor our brother. My name is Melissa, but Matt almost never called me that. He called me many other things, including Missy, Sissy Missy, Sissy, Sis, Kiddo, Kid, and Diane.

As most of us know, Matt was an incredible human being. But you may not know that he was an incredible brother. He was dependable, supportive, generous, and non-judgmental. He was always there for me. I was fortunate enough to have him as my big brother for 62 years; how lucky is that? And we made good use of that time too. As young kids, we played a lot of games. He was, of course, the game master. Sure, I always lost, but I still loved playing. Because even though he would always win, he was always nice about it, so it was still fun.

Matt was unique. He had his own style. He always wore shorts. And t-shirts. And Converse. Even as a kid. When we lived in Connecticut, my parent even got in trouble for... Read more “neglect” because he would be out in shorts and a t-shirt in the snow. People were appalled that he didn’t have a coat. Complaints were made, social workers were called. Mom had to make him carry a jacket - he still wouldn’t wear it - but she made him carry it to prove that she tried.

In high school, he got in trouble for breaking into the school. But this was Matt, so it probably wasn’t what you’re thinking. Vacation was coming and Matt wanted to borrow a book from a teacher. The teacher said no. But, the book was just going to be sitting there all vacation, which made no sense at all. So Matt decided to borrow it anyway. Well, vacation ended and Matt wanted to get the book back in place before it could be missed, so he went back in the wee hours and went over to the good ol’ push, lift, and slide window. Only it didn’t push, lift, and slide like it was supposed to. Someone had actually locked it for vacation, so when he pushed, the glass broke and cut his wrist. He bled all over, parents were called, and the book was returned, but not secretly as he’d hoped.

Matt had a passion for music. He also had an encyclopedic knowledge of music. He was our Google before there ever was Google. He generously shared his love of music in the form of sharing records, tapes, and CDs, pop-up trivia questions, and taking people to concerts. Some of my favorite concerts with him were Roger Waters, Trans Siberian Orchestra, Jonny Lang, and the Eagles. And game nights always came with a great set list, carefully chosen eclectic music to entertain and enlighten. I always loved his music choices and appreciated the musical exposure I got from him. He was a huge influence on me in many ways, particularly when it came to music.

As adults, we did so much together: camping, backpacking, walks, bike rides, family sports teams, concerts, vacations, and all the holidays. I spent more of my New Year’s Eves with my brother than with anyone else. And of course game nights. There were so many. And yeah, I continued to lose, usually, (believe it or not, I actually won a game or two on rare occasions), but it wasn’t about winning, it was about spending time together. And I am so grateful for all the time we had together.

I won the lotto. No, not that lotto. The family lotto. My family is full of so many of my most favorite people. Matt was one of my most favorite people. He was one of my best friends. And he was, and always will be, my brother.
Thank you. Read less

Hello, I am Melissa. I am one of Matt’s two sisters. And we want to thank you for being here to honor our brother. My name is Melissa, but Matt almost never called me that. He called me many other things, including Missy, Sissy Missy, Sissy, Sis, Kiddo, Kid, and Diane.

As most of us know, Matt was an incredible human being. But you may not know that he was an incredible brother. He was dependable, supportive, generous, and non-judgmental. He was always there for me. I was fortunate enough... Read more to have him as my big brother for 62 years; how lucky is that? And we made good use of that time too. As young kids, we played a lot of games. He was, of course, the game master. Sure, I always lost, but I still loved playing. Because even though he would always win, he was always nice about it, so it was still fun.

Matt was unique. He had his own style. He always wore shorts. And t-shirts. And Converse. Even as a kid. When we lived in Connecticut, my parent even got in trouble for “neglect” because he would be out in shorts and a t-shirt in the snow. People were appalled that he didn’t have a coat. Complaints were made, social workers were called. Mom had to make him carry a jacket - he still wouldn’t wear it - but she made him carry it to prove that she tried.

In high school, he got in trouble for breaking into the school. But this was Matt, so it probably wasn’t what you’re thinking. Vacation was coming and Matt wanted to borrow a book from a teacher. The teacher said no. But, the book was just going to be sitting there all vacation, which made no sense at all. So Matt decided to borrow it anyway. Well, vacation ended and Matt wanted to get the book back in place before it could be missed, so he went back in the wee hours and went over to the good ol’ push, lift, and slide window. Only it didn’t push, lift, and slide like it was supposed to. Someone had actually locked it for vacation, so when he pushed, the glass broke and cut his wrist. He bled all over, parents were called, and the book was returned, but not secretly as he’d hoped.

Matt had a passion for music. He also had an encyclopedic knowledge of music. He was our Google before there ever was Google. He generously shared his love of music in the form of sharing records, tapes, and CDs, pop-up trivia questions, and taking people to concerts. Some of my favorite concerts with him were Roger Waters, Trans Siberian Orchestra, Jonny Lang, and the Eagles. And game nights always came with a great set list, carefully chosen eclectic music to entertain and enlighten. I always loved his music choices and appreciated the musical exposure I got from him. He was a huge influence on me in many ways, particularly when it came to music.

As adults, we did so much together: camping, backpacking, walks, bike rides, family sports teams, concerts, vacations, and all the holidays. I spent more of my New Year’s Eves with my brother than with anyone else. And of course game nights. There were so many. And yeah, I continued to lose, usually, (believe it or not, I actually won a game or two on rare occasions), but it wasn’t about winning, it was about spending time together. And I am so grateful for all the time we had together.

I won the lotto. No, not that lotto. The family lotto. My family is full of so many of my most favorite people. Matt was one of my most favorite people. He was one of my best friends. And he was, and always will be, my brother.
Thank you. Read less

Thank you to Matt’s sisters Julie and Melissa, our kids, Ryan and Diane, and others for many of these photos. Thank you to my brother John for putting together today’s presentation.

As Matt introduced the valedictorian at WCC’s graduation in May of this year, he talked about the fact that life does not have a remote control where you can sit back in your recliner and just change the channel. Instead he talked about each of us needing to decide our path, get up out of the recliner, and take thoughtful steps along that path towards our goals. This is something I plan to remember and how I will live.

Matt- what can I say about you that has not already been said:
-You were always kind and considerate
-Always wanting to help family, friends, students, colleagues
-Intelligent, witty, articulate, sometimes even to the point of being eloquent
-Loving, caring, funny, compassionate

You took care of me after various surgeries including my cancer treatment and took on more household... Read more responsibilities as time went on… What have I learned in the past month?
-I have to shop now. As Matt knew, I am not fond of shopping, but have found that Costco at 9 am on a weekday is not so bad.
-I have to make the bed. Matt always liked to do that.
-I also have to do the laundry now. The washing and drying is not so bad, we have the machines for that, but the folding! I miss your folding and hanging up the clothes.
-And the dishes. Don’t get me started on the dishes.

Matt was known to say, You have to play the hand you’re dealt even if you don’t like the cards. That is where I am. I do not like this hand. I thought we had at least 10 more years together, but we will move forward, we will honor Matt as we continue to live, love, and make sense of this world. I am going to play the heck out of this hand of cards to make Matt proud and I want to help others do so too.

I calculated that I lived over 7,000 days before I met Matt, over 17,000 days while knowing Matt, and the last 24 days without Matt. I do not like this hand!

There are lots of people helping to make today happen. I especially want to thank
Lizette Navarrete, President
Carid Servin. Executive Assistant to the President
Betsy Allen - helping with the technology and with flowers
Chris Mejia and Gary Vazquez in IT
Davis Media- running today’s lights and camera
Agriculture dept for the lovely flowers in the Community room.
Hoda & Nili- you have been with us since June 21 and are now part of our family
Family and friends that traveled to be here with us today.
Our speakers today, Jesse, Ryan, Greg, Monica, Skylar, Aree, John, Nili, Diane, and Melissa.
My children: Diane, Ryan, David, and Sara. I need you more than ever now.
My darling Amara- you were a joy to your Grandpa and continue to be one to me-Amararama!
Matt’s sisters, Julie and Melissa-you have been with us on this journey we have been on over the past month plus. I so appreciate that and love you both.

Please join us in the Community Center for some lunch and sharing memories of Matt. There are vegetarian and gluten free options so please see one of the staff assisting with the food if you have specific dietary needs. Thank you so much to everyone who brought cookies, cupcakes, or some other treat. There are also decks of cards that Matt collected throughout his life. Some are new and still wrapped. Some have been used in a casino in Reno, Tahoe, or Las Vegas. Some are from places we’ve travelled. Please take a deck to remember Matt if you would like.

Again, thank you for being here to celebrate Matt! Read less

Thank you to Matt’s sisters Julie and Melissa, our kids, Ryan and Diane, and others for many of these photos. Thank you to my brother John for putting together today’s presentation.

As Matt introduced the valedictorian at WCC’s graduation in May of this year, he talked about the fact that life does not have a remote control where you can sit back in your recliner and just change the channel. Instead he talked about each of us needing to decide our path, get up out of the recliner, and take ... Read morethoughtful steps along that path towards our goals. This is something I plan to remember and how I will live.

Matt- what can I say about you that has not already been said:
-You were always kind and considerate
-Always wanting to help family, friends, students, colleagues
-Intelligent, witty, articulate, sometimes even to the point of being eloquent
-Loving, caring, funny, compassionate

You took care of me after various surgeries including my cancer treatment and took on more household responsibilities as time went on… What have I learned in the past month?
-I have to shop now. As Matt knew, I am not fond of shopping, but have found that Costco at 9 am on a weekday is not so bad.
-I have to make the bed. Matt always liked to do that.
-I also have to do the laundry now. The washing and drying is not so bad, we have the machines for that, but the folding! I miss your folding and hanging up the clothes.
-And the dishes. Don’t get me started on the dishes.

Matt was known to say, You have to play the hand you’re dealt even if you don’t like the cards. That is where I am. I do not like this hand. I thought we had at least 10 more years together, but we will move forward, we will honor Matt as we continue to live, love, and make sense of this world. I am going to play the heck out of this hand of cards to make Matt proud and I want to help others do so too.

I calculated that I lived over 7,000 days before I met Matt, over 17,000 days while knowing Matt, and the last 24 days without Matt. I do not like this hand!

There are lots of people helping to make today happen. I especially want to thank
Lizette Navarrete, President
Carid Servin. Executive Assistant to the President
Betsy Allen - helping with the technology and with flowers
Chris Mejia and Gary Vazquez in IT
Davis Media- running today’s lights and camera
Agriculture dept for the lovely flowers in the Community room.
Hoda & Nili- you have been with us since June 21 and are now part of our family
Family and friends that traveled to be here with us today.
Our speakers today, Jesse, Ryan, Greg, Monica, Skylar, Aree, John, Nili, Diane, and Melissa.
My children: Diane, Ryan, David, and Sara. I need you more than ever now.
My darling Amara- you were a joy to your Grandpa and continue to be one to me-Amararama!
Matt’s sisters, Julie and Melissa-you have been with us on this journey we have been on over the past month plus. I so appreciate that and love you both.

Please join us in the Community Center for some lunch and sharing memories of Matt. There are vegetarian and gluten free options so please see one of the staff assisting with the food if you have specific dietary needs. Thank you so much to everyone who brought cookies, cupcakes, or some other treat. There are also decks of cards that Matt collected throughout his life. Some are new and still wrapped. Some have been used in a casino in Reno, Tahoe, or Las Vegas. Some are from places we’ve travelled. Please take a deck to remember Matt if you would like.

Again, thank you for being here to celebrate Matt! Read less

For those of you I haven't yet had the pleasure to meet, I'm Matt's daughter, Diane Clark.

I'm obliged to speak today, not just because we are here to celebrate my dad, but because he always wanted me to teach here with him. This may be the closest I get to lecturing at Woodland Community College, so I hope you glean something insightful, interesting, or memorable as I reminisce on some of the things my father taught me over the years.

I'll kick us off with something probably surprising to no one in this room- Statistics. It's really not a fair fight, but he was easily the best professor I've ever had. My father taught me early on that life is an open book test. Please, use your resources.

Long before that summer he officially taught me statistics, and to this day, he taught me to appreciate the importance of a quality education. Since my parents met at UCD, and were still in school when I was born, not only did I grow up in a college town, but I spent much of my formative ... Read moreyears on campus. Yet, despite the deep importance of the matter, he also showed immense patience as both Ryan and I took a more scenic route to completing our degrees. When my fiancé was nervous to take the CBEST (an exam designed to test basic reading, math, and writing skills important for educators), my dad kindly added fuel to the fire by putting my hand on the line. Thankfully, David aced it and it all worked out.

Inextricably tied to education, from infancy to adulthood, my father cultivated in me a love of reading. I can still hear his voice in my head when I read certain stories to my daughter, Amara, before bedtime. As a child, my parents would take me to the library and I would leave with an armful of books, eager to explore the world. As I grew up, we shared our thoughts on many novels and series over the years.

His love of reading was integral to developing a vocabulary I strive for. Long before your kindle would define words for you, and till the end, he would write down words he came across that he didn't know. He would keep reading, using context to assume meaning, then later look up, and write down the definitions for his own edification. His last word list included, in alphabetical order, just like all his exams and homework papers:
Alamodality. The quality of being fashionable. We all know dad had his own unique alamodality
Filial. Relating to, or befitting, a son or daughter. I know both Ryan and I are honored to be here fulfilling our filial duties.
Rasher. A thin slice of bacon or ham, boiled or fried. As dad was a vegetarian for over 25 years, I’ll have to forgive him for not knowing this term…
Riven. Torn apart into pieces, like my heart.
My favorite word, which I will always associate with my father and use as often as I can is "Indubitably".

Another contributor to his vocabulary was, indubitably, his love of music. From country and rock & roll, to funk, classical, parody, comedy, and pop, the house was always filled with music. He still had his collections of 45s, LPs, cassettes, & CDs. Every year he would make a "Death CD" for us; burning a memorial compilation with one or two songs by each of the artists that passed the prior year. It was a beautiful way to honor and spread his musical love.

Speaking of spreading the love, he taught me how to coach, mentor and manage expectations for both kids and adults. First by coaching the teams I played on and later as we coached together. Always with a focus on sportsmanship and the fundamentals. Everybody plays! Use both your hands and both your feet! From being the only girl comfortable with left handed layups in junior high, to people to this day asking if I am left footed when I really just use each foot confidently when appropriate, I have my father to thank for my athletic ambidexterity.

Family and sports intertwined from day 1. Starting with volleyball and horseshoes at family reunions and watching my parents play Intramural softball together at UCD. I have vivid memories of watching my father play basketball at Bella Vista with “Serendipity”, his recreational team that included many friends but also his father and sometimes his cousin Tony and brother-in-law John. After I moved back to the area, in 2018 we formed “House Clark” a 3v3 basketball team, of which Ryan, David, Dad, and I have been the core for the last 6 years. Amara has been there to cheer us on for the last 4. Last year, he watched Amara play her first season of soccer, and this year she scored her first ever goal just 17 hours after he passed.

If you're here today, you're family. I know Ryan and I are not the only ones who saw our dad as a father figure. Our Dad used every last bit of his heart to love, help, and teach others. He always stood up, and spoke up, for logic, sanity, and what he believed in.

I can't imagine there is anyone in this room who didn't share a laugh or smile with my dad at least once. He loved to tell a good, or bad joke, no matter how much groundwork he had to lay before the punchline. He scoured the papers for comics to snip and share. My favorite part of watching a live comedy show was always his reactions.

Please depart today, not in grief for our communal and immeasurable loss, but in appreciation of all the smiles and laughs we shared.

Uncle John prepared a beautiful slideshow featuring some of those memories; please enjoy…
https://www.facebook.com/1757952054/videos/447424941436906/)%C2%A0 Read less

For those of you I haven't yet had the pleasure to meet, I'm Matt's daughter, Diane Clark.

I'm obliged to speak today, not just because we are here to celebrate my dad, but because he always wanted me to teach here with him. This may be the closest I get to lecturing at Woodland Community College, so I hope you glean something insightful, interesting, or memorable as I reminisce on some of the things my father taught me over the years.

I'll kick us off with something probably surprising ... Read moreto no one in this room- Statistics. It's really not a fair fight, but he was easily the best professor I've ever had. My father taught me early on that life is an open book test. Please, use your resources.

Long before that summer he officially taught me statistics, and to this day, he taught me to appreciate the importance of a quality education. Since my parents met at UCD, and were still in school when I was born, not only did I grow up in a college town, but I spent much of my formative years on campus. Yet, despite the deep importance of the matter, he also showed immense patience as both Ryan and I took a more scenic route to completing our degrees. When my fiancé was nervous to take the CBEST (an exam designed to test basic reading, math, and writing skills important for educators), my dad kindly added fuel to the fire by putting my hand on the line. Thankfully, David aced it and it all worked out.

Inextricably tied to education, from infancy to adulthood, my father cultivated in me a love of reading. I can still hear his voice in my head when I read certain stories to my daughter, Amara, before bedtime. As a child, my parents would take me to the library and I would leave with an armful of books, eager to explore the world. As I grew up, we shared our thoughts on many novels and series over the years.

His love of reading was integral to developing a vocabulary I strive for. Long before your kindle would define words for you, and till the end, he would write down words he came across that he didn't know. He would keep reading, using context to assume meaning, then later look up, and write down the definitions for his own edification. His last word list included, in alphabetical order, just like all his exams and homework papers:
Alamodality. The quality of being fashionable. We all know dad had his own unique alamodality
Filial. Relating to, or befitting, a son or daughter. I know both Ryan and I are honored to be here fulfilling our filial duties.
Rasher. A thin slice of bacon or ham, boiled or fried. As dad was a vegetarian for over 25 years, I’ll have to forgive him for not knowing this term…
Riven. Torn apart into pieces, like my heart.
My favorite word, which I will always associate with my father and use as often as I can is "Indubitably".

Another contributor to his vocabulary was, indubitably, his love of music. From country and rock & roll, to funk, classical, parody, comedy, and pop, the house was always filled with music. He still had his collections of 45s, LPs, cassettes, & CDs. Every year he would make a "Death CD" for us; burning a memorial compilation with one or two songs by each of the artists that passed the prior year. It was a beautiful way to honor and spread his musical love.

Speaking of spreading the love, he taught me how to coach, mentor and manage expectations for both kids and adults. First by coaching the teams I played on and later as we coached together. Always with a focus on sportsmanship and the fundamentals. Everybody plays! Use both your hands and both your feet! From being the only girl comfortable with left handed layups in junior high, to people to this day asking if I am left footed when I really just use each foot confidently when appropriate, I have my father to thank for my athletic ambidexterity.

Family and sports intertwined from day 1. Starting with volleyball and horseshoes at family reunions and watching my parents play Intramural softball together at UCD. I have vivid memories of watching my father play basketball at Bella Vista with “Serendipity”, his recreational team that included many friends but also his father and sometimes his cousin Tony and brother-in-law John. After I moved back to the area, in 2018 we formed “House Clark” a 3v3 basketball team, of which Ryan, David, Dad, and I have been the core for the last 6 years. Amara has been there to cheer us on for the last 4. Last year, he watched Amara play her first season of soccer, and this year she scored her first ever goal just 17 hours after he passed.

If you're here today, you're family. I know Ryan and I are not the only ones who saw our dad as a father figure. Our Dad used every last bit of his heart to love, help, and teach others. He always stood up, and spoke up, for logic, sanity, and what he believed in.

I can't imagine there is anyone in this room who didn't share a laugh or smile with my dad at least once. He loved to tell a good, or bad joke, no matter how much groundwork he had to lay before the punchline. He scoured the papers for comics to snip and share. My favorite part of watching a live comedy show was always his reactions.

Please depart today, not in grief for our communal and immeasurable loss, but in appreciation of all the smiles and laughs we shared.

Uncle John prepared a beautiful slideshow featuring some of those memories; please enjoy…
https://www.facebook.com/1757952054/videos/447424941436906/)%C2%A0 Read less

My first memory of Matt is of him in his office down the hall from me. Our little hallway held a few faculty offices, and with everyone’s comings and goings, I was never sure who else was in their office, but I ALWAYS knew when Matt was in his office by the line of students waiting outside!

I received a quick introduction to Matt’s reputation as a stellar teacher and of students clamoring to get to his office hours. They actually wanted to see him! Nobody I’ve ever known in my almost 35 years of working in this system has ever had the draw that Matt had! As a fellow teacher, I know how much skill and talent and hard work made his teaching excellent. It seemed effortless, but there was great effort behind the scenes in making it so. He cared about every student and would do nothing less.

I’ve been fortunate to have some amazing mentors throughout my career, and that was certainly true for me as a new teacher at WCC. But at WCC, from the beginning, I knew I had amazing teachers and... Read more work family in Matt Clark, Tom Duncan, and Judy Bean.

Matt, Tom, and Judy were a formidable team! They were usually together (walking across campus, entering meetings, their opinions), and together they provided for me a foundation of integrity. They kept us focused on the collective, the greater good, and our students. It didn’t matter how hard the conversations got or how difficult the choices, I knew the three of them would remind me of what was right and keep me moving on the right path. What an amazing start for me, and how lucky was I to have that foundation!

And for all the hard conversations, there were also many good times and lots of laughter. Some of you will remember Tom and Judy’s last “faculty” meeting. Tom entered the room, sat down quietly, and held up a sign that read: "My last f meeting." As people laughed, he asked, "What? It's my last faculty meeting."

For those of you who knew all three, you know that Tom’s opinions were usually well-known to all. He was not the quiet one, and he didn’t hold back. Judy held her own, and Matt was the quiet, gentle giant. He wasn’t shy, but he didn’t speak unless he had something to say, and when he did, everyone knew to pay attention. There was always valuable insight or perspective to be gained. He didn’t hesitate to point out the truth, regardless of how hard it was to hear. I paid attention and did not usually challenge him except once! In our 21 years of working together, we disagreed only once, and it was in my delivery of a message to the Board of Trustees during the time I served as Academic Senate President. We agreed to disagree, and all these years later, I realize…darn if he wasn’t right! He probably knew it then but let me be. Matt always had the answer. In his usual modest and humble manner, he would deny it, but I know better: he was my trustworthy, reliable, consistent guiding light. And I never imagined a world where I wouldn’t have that to draw from.

When I think of Matt, I’m reminded of the words of the great Maya Angelou: I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.

And though I will remember with great fondness things that Matt did and said, how he made people feel is his remarkable legacy. Matt had a special ability to make every single person he encountered feel special. I don’t believe Matt had any adversaries. He was respectful and kind…always, and above all else, he had a generosity of spirit that is unparalleled. As a teacher, a colleague, a friend, he was generous in investing in the people around him. We have heard and will continue to hear that same message from those who encountered him on any path he traveled.

Teri, Diane, Ryan, Amara, Julie, Melissa, and your families…Matt was and will continue to be incredibly important to us, to me. His legacy lives on in you…in Amara in whom he delighted…but it also shines brightly in the army of lives he touched. We join you in carrying his bright light forward. My love to you. Read less

My first memory of Matt is of him in his office down the hall from me. Our little hallway held a few faculty offices, and with everyone’s comings and goings, I was never sure who else was in their office, but I ALWAYS knew when Matt was in his office by the line of students waiting outside!

I received a quick introduction to Matt’s reputation as a stellar teacher and of students clamoring to get to his office hours. They actually wanted to see him! Nobody I’ve ever known in my almost 35 years... Read more of working in this system has ever had the draw that Matt had! As a fellow teacher, I know how much skill and talent and hard work made his teaching excellent. It seemed effortless, but there was great effort behind the scenes in making it so. He cared about every student and would do nothing less.

I’ve been fortunate to have some amazing mentors throughout my career, and that was certainly true for me as a new teacher at WCC. But at WCC, from the beginning, I knew I had amazing teachers and work family in Matt Clark, Tom Duncan, and Judy Bean.

Matt, Tom, and Judy were a formidable team! They were usually together (walking across campus, entering meetings, their opinions), and together they provided for me a foundation of integrity. They kept us focused on the collective, the greater good, and our students. It didn’t matter how hard the conversations got or how difficult the choices, I knew the three of them would remind me of what was right and keep me moving on the right path. What an amazing start for me, and how lucky was I to have that foundation!

And for all the hard conversations, there were also many good times and lots of laughter. Some of you will remember Tom and Judy’s last “faculty” meeting. Tom entered the room, sat down quietly, and held up a sign that read: "My last f meeting." As people laughed, he asked, "What? It's my last faculty meeting."

For those of you who knew all three, you know that Tom’s opinions were usually well-known to all. He was not the quiet one, and he didn’t hold back. Judy held her own, and Matt was the quiet, gentle giant. He wasn’t shy, but he didn’t speak unless he had something to say, and when he did, everyone knew to pay attention. There was always valuable insight or perspective to be gained. He didn’t hesitate to point out the truth, regardless of how hard it was to hear. I paid attention and did not usually challenge him except once! In our 21 years of working together, we disagreed only once, and it was in my delivery of a message to the Board of Trustees during the time I served as Academic Senate President. We agreed to disagree, and all these years later, I realize…darn if he wasn’t right! He probably knew it then but let me be. Matt always had the answer. In his usual modest and humble manner, he would deny it, but I know better: he was my trustworthy, reliable, consistent guiding light. And I never imagined a world where I wouldn’t have that to draw from.

When I think of Matt, I’m reminded of the words of the great Maya Angelou: I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.

And though I will remember with great fondness things that Matt did and said, how he made people feel is his remarkable legacy. Matt had a special ability to make every single person he encountered feel special. I don’t believe Matt had any adversaries. He was respectful and kind…always, and above all else, he had a generosity of spirit that is unparalleled. As a teacher, a colleague, a friend, he was generous in investing in the people around him. We have heard and will continue to hear that same message from those who encountered him on any path he traveled.

Teri, Diane, Ryan, Amara, Julie, Melissa, and your families…Matt was and will continue to be incredibly important to us, to me. His legacy lives on in you…in Amara in whom he delighted…but it also shines brightly in the army of lives he touched. We join you in carrying his bright light forward. My love to you. Read less

I want to start by thanking Matt's family, especially Teri, Diane, and Ryan, for allowing me this opportunity to share a few memories of Matt.

My name is Aree Metz and I teach English at Woodland Community College. For five years I have served with Matt on the Academic Senate as a Senator, and eventually his Secretary and Vice President.

Matt was not just a colleague for me. He was my mentor, advisor, confidant, cheerleader, therapist, leader. He was my friend.

Compared to many here, I haven't known Matt as long—in January, I'll start my 9th year on campus. But he has been a part of my WCC story from the beginning. Though I can't recall if I met him before when I was a part-time instructor, I do remember that one of our first meetings was at my interview, where Matt served as timekeeper. Maybe it was nerves, but I could have sworn he said I would get a 1/2 time warning and a 10 minute warning. Just imagine the look of panic and horror I must have had on my face when he announced... Read more I only had 10 minutes left but still had five to six unanswered questions. Matt locked eyes with me from down the conference table and my expression made his eyebrows shoot up so high, frankly I lost them completely. The first of many meaningful looks we would share across a conference table over the years.
Matt joined my tenure committee as Senate rep, and in that role and even long after it he would often visit my office to check-in on me. Since I passed by his classroom to get to my office, I would sometimes catch him outside on a break chatting with students. On a few occasions he would later follow-up with me in my office because “I didn’t look like my usual self”. He was thoughtful and considerate in that way. Sometimes, I really did have something to get off my chest and it was a relief to have an opportunity to share, other times I was just sleep deprived or hungry, but I always appreciated his care and concern. When I started working with him on the Senate, I learned that he preferred in-person conversations to emails and zoom meetings. I also always marveled at how Matt seemed to know everyone on campus: full-time and part-time faculty, but also staff, student workers, admin. These were not just superficial acquaintances—Matt took the time to get to know people individually and personally just because he cared.

I think everyone knows what an incredibly skilled and passionate teacher Matt is. After 4 years of him observing and supporting me, I got to pay him back when he asked me to serve as his peer evaluator. I really looked forward to the opportunity because I had already heard so many positive things about his teaching from my students. I am not yet a Math person, and so you can imagine my surprise when I dropped in to see a random Statistics class in the middle of the semester and came away feeling like I actually understood something about binomials. When I typed up the student feedback from that class, I wasn’t surprised to see many students name him their favorite professor. I wanted to share a few of the student comments from the Everloved memorial that I think capture just what Matt meant to our students.

Sophia Wright: “He had an incredible ability to make Statistics fascinating. His humor was clever and just funny”.

Angela Domen: “I was a student at WCC in 2004 and took many of his courses. He was an excellent professor and gave me so much confidence that carried through the rest of my life/career”.

Jillian Allen: “He not only had a plethora of knowledge to share, but he advocated for students’ rights. Matt gave himself to the CC system and Woodland, which was and is needed. I feel honored to have been a student of his, to have made him proud, and to have just known him”.

Jillian’s words particularly resonate with me as someone who worked closely with Matt on the Senate. Yes, he was a passionate advocate for all faculty—part-time, full-time, Lake, main campus, he saw no distinctions--But his work in governance always came back to our students. He believed and fiercely defended the mission of our system: to not only provide students with a high-quality education but to do everything we reasonably can to support their success. He was always thinking of ways to bring student voices into shared governance and particularly loved working with our Associated Students of WCC. Matt did not brag about his service or motivations, but let his actions speak for him. I know I wasn't the only faculty member inspired by his example and leadership to follow in his footsteps.

I've said a lot and could say so much more, so I'll wrap things up with just a few quick points.
For a math guy, Matt sure had a way with words. He could deliver hard truths with intelligence, eloquence, resolve, humor, and wit. He asked the important questions and noticed details or brought forward considerations others missed. And if you were one of the recipients of one of his heartfelt and humorous Honorary Resolutions, then you are especially fortunate.

He is well known as a chocolate chip cookie aficionado which happen to be my specialty. I loved surprising him with a random cookie at meetings and plenaries.

We also had a running joke about cake. For those of you who don't know, there's a long tradition that when faculty receive tenure and are presented to the Board there's a reception with cake. During challenging parts of my tenure process, I would sometimes jokingly tell Matt I was just doing it all for the cake. Ironically, I received my tenure in 2020, so needless to say there was no reception and no cake. Our joke then shifted to me asking Matt when I was going to get my cake. To his credit, in May of 23 he did organize a special reception for faculty who received tenure during the pandemic, and there was indeed a cake. Unfortunately, the celebration was scheduled during my final. Still, when I got back to my office, I found an enormous piece of cake he had saved for me—with my name on it.

Matt had this thing about wanting to treat people to meals. I heard him mention new Senators multiple times that he wanted to treat them to dinner. When we were in Costa Mesa this last fall for the ASCCC plenary, Matt and I finally got to have that dinner: a vegan Dim Sum meal where we ordered way, way too much food. We learned a lot about each other that evening. We talked about gardening, losing our parents, travel, hopes for the future, and of course, he talked about his family, especially his beloved granddaughter Amara. That dinner is a precious memory I will always cherish. Also, though I lack photographic proof, that plenary was also the first time I saw Matt wear a tie.

Matt was totally unique and special. Here at WCC, he leaves behind massive shoes that no one person could ever hope to fill. Together, as a community, I think we can work to maintain his legacy and keep his memory alive by caring for each other and our students, by devoting ourselves to students’ success in our various roles, and by sharing our time, energy, and talents in shared governance.

Matt, thank you. I miss you. I love you. Read less

I want to start by thanking Matt's family, especially Teri, Diane, and Ryan, for allowing me this opportunity to share a few memories of Matt.

My name is Aree Metz and I teach English at Woodland Community College. For five years I have served with Matt on the Academic Senate as a Senator, and eventually his Secretary and Vice President.

Matt was not just a colleague for me. He was my mentor, advisor, confidant, cheerleader, therapist, leader. He was my friend.

Compared to many here, I... Read more haven't known Matt as long—in January, I'll start my 9th year on campus. But he has been a part of my WCC story from the beginning. Though I can't recall if I met him before when I was a part-time instructor, I do remember that one of our first meetings was at my interview, where Matt served as timekeeper. Maybe it was nerves, but I could have sworn he said I would get a 1/2 time warning and a 10 minute warning. Just imagine the look of panic and horror I must have had on my face when he announced I only had 10 minutes left but still had five to six unanswered questions. Matt locked eyes with me from down the conference table and my expression made his eyebrows shoot up so high, frankly I lost them completely. The first of many meaningful looks we would share across a conference table over the years.
Matt joined my tenure committee as Senate rep, and in that role and even long after it he would often visit my office to check-in on me. Since I passed by his classroom to get to my office, I would sometimes catch him outside on a break chatting with students. On a few occasions he would later follow-up with me in my office because “I didn’t look like my usual self”. He was thoughtful and considerate in that way. Sometimes, I really did have something to get off my chest and it was a relief to have an opportunity to share, other times I was just sleep deprived or hungry, but I always appreciated his care and concern. When I started working with him on the Senate, I learned that he preferred in-person conversations to emails and zoom meetings. I also always marveled at how Matt seemed to know everyone on campus: full-time and part-time faculty, but also staff, student workers, admin. These were not just superficial acquaintances—Matt took the time to get to know people individually and personally just because he cared.

I think everyone knows what an incredibly skilled and passionate teacher Matt is. After 4 years of him observing and supporting me, I got to pay him back when he asked me to serve as his peer evaluator. I really looked forward to the opportunity because I had already heard so many positive things about his teaching from my students. I am not yet a Math person, and so you can imagine my surprise when I dropped in to see a random Statistics class in the middle of the semester and came away feeling like I actually understood something about binomials. When I typed up the student feedback from that class, I wasn’t surprised to see many students name him their favorite professor. I wanted to share a few of the student comments from the Everloved memorial that I think capture just what Matt meant to our students.

Sophia Wright: “He had an incredible ability to make Statistics fascinating. His humor was clever and just funny”.

Angela Domen: “I was a student at WCC in 2004 and took many of his courses. He was an excellent professor and gave me so much confidence that carried through the rest of my life/career”.

Jillian Allen: “He not only had a plethora of knowledge to share, but he advocated for students’ rights. Matt gave himself to the CC system and Woodland, which was and is needed. I feel honored to have been a student of his, to have made him proud, and to have just known him”.

Jillian’s words particularly resonate with me as someone who worked closely with Matt on the Senate. Yes, he was a passionate advocate for all faculty—part-time, full-time, Lake, main campus, he saw no distinctions--But his work in governance always came back to our students. He believed and fiercely defended the mission of our system: to not only provide students with a high-quality education but to do everything we reasonably can to support their success. He was always thinking of ways to bring student voices into shared governance and particularly loved working with our Associated Students of WCC. Matt did not brag about his service or motivations, but let his actions speak for him. I know I wasn't the only faculty member inspired by his example and leadership to follow in his footsteps.

I've said a lot and could say so much more, so I'll wrap things up with just a few quick points.
For a math guy, Matt sure had a way with words. He could deliver hard truths with intelligence, eloquence, resolve, humor, and wit. He asked the important questions and noticed details or brought forward considerations others missed. And if you were one of the recipients of one of his heartfelt and humorous Honorary Resolutions, then you are especially fortunate.

He is well known as a chocolate chip cookie aficionado which happen to be my specialty. I loved surprising him with a random cookie at meetings and plenaries.

We also had a running joke about cake. For those of you who don't know, there's a long tradition that when faculty receive tenure and are presented to the Board there's a reception with cake. During challenging parts of my tenure process, I would sometimes jokingly tell Matt I was just doing it all for the cake. Ironically, I received my tenure in 2020, so needless to say there was no reception and no cake. Our joke then shifted to me asking Matt when I was going to get my cake. To his credit, in May of 23 he did organize a special reception for faculty who received tenure during the pandemic, and there was indeed a cake. Unfortunately, the celebration was scheduled during my final. Still, when I got back to my office, I found an enormous piece of cake he had saved for me—with my name on it.

Matt had this thing about wanting to treat people to meals. I heard him mention new Senators multiple times that he wanted to treat them to dinner. When we were in Costa Mesa this last fall for the ASCCC plenary, Matt and I finally got to have that dinner: a vegan Dim Sum meal where we ordered way, way too much food. We learned a lot about each other that evening. We talked about gardening, losing our parents, travel, hopes for the future, and of course, he talked about his family, especially his beloved granddaughter Amara. That dinner is a precious memory I will always cherish. Also, though I lack photographic proof, that plenary was also the first time I saw Matt wear a tie.

Matt was totally unique and special. Here at WCC, he leaves behind massive shoes that no one person could ever hope to fill. Together, as a community, I think we can work to maintain his legacy and keep his memory alive by caring for each other and our students, by devoting ourselves to students’ success in our various roles, and by sharing our time, energy, and talents in shared governance.

Matt, thank you. I miss you. I love you. Read less

Good Morning – On behalf of the:
• The WCC Faculty and Staff
• WCC President Lizette Navarette
• District Chancellor Shouan Pan, and
• Yuba CCD Trustees

Welcome to Woodland Community College and Thank you for being here –

When a person is gone there’s an emptiness of where that person used to be in your life. Many of us our feeling that today as we gather to celebrate and pay Tribute to Professor Matt Clark.

I’m Jesse Ortiz and I was fortunate to have known Matt for 30 years, 20 years as a WCC colleague and these last 10 years as a friend and member of the Yuba CCD Trustees.

Matt’s passing on June 21 was a shock to me as it continues to be today for all of us. When I heard the news I started to think about his life and relationship he had with me, WCC current & past faculty/staff members and impact for the future of WCC, community - and on his family.

Today, as I reflect about Matt I think of an Albert Einstein quote - “Strive not to become a person of... Read more success - But rather a person of Value”

A common definition of “value” is “something to offer that positively impact’s others lives”.


I believe this sums up Matt – He was truly a person of “Value”.

Just by being here today, you’re showing that Matt had an impact on you. To know that Matt touched you the same way he touch me is the way I want to remember him.

There is a “belief” that when a person passes - they leave us three ways:

1. When their heart stops;
2. When their spirit leaves them; and
3. When we stop speaking and remembering them - Professor Matt Clark’s value to the WCC Community and beyond will never be forgotten.

Thank you. Read less

Good Morning – On behalf of the:
• The WCC Faculty and Staff
• WCC President Lizette Navarette
• District Chancellor Shouan Pan, and
• Yuba CCD Trustees

Welcome to Woodland Community College and Thank you for being here –

When a person is gone there’s an emptiness of where that person used to be in your life. Many of us our feeling that today as we gather to celebrate and pay Tribute to Professor Matt Clark.

I’m Jesse Ortiz and I was fortunate to have known Matt for 30 years,... Read more 20 years as a WCC colleague and these last 10 years as a friend and member of the Yuba CCD Trustees.

Matt’s passing on June 21 was a shock to me as it continues to be today for all of us. When I heard the news I started to think about his life and relationship he had with me, WCC current & past faculty/staff members and impact for the future of WCC, community - and on his family.

Today, as I reflect about Matt I think of an Albert Einstein quote - “Strive not to become a person of success - But rather a person of Value”

A common definition of “value” is “something to offer that positively impact’s others lives”.


I believe this sums up Matt – He was truly a person of “Value”.

Just by being here today, you’re showing that Matt had an impact on you. To know that Matt touched you the same way he touch me is the way I want to remember him.

There is a “belief” that when a person passes - they leave us three ways:

1. When their heart stops;
2. When their spirit leaves them; and
3. When we stop speaking and remembering them - Professor Matt Clark’s value to the WCC Community and beyond will never be forgotten.

Thank you. Read less

I’m Matt’s brother-in-law, John, and my sister asked me to put together a slideshow for today, and so we started collecting photos from family, friends, and co-workers. In the collection of files was a short video of Matt speaking at a graduation ceremony, and it occurred to me that I had never seen Matt being a professor. Of course, I knew he was a professor, and I’d heard he was the President of the faculty senate, but I had never seen him acting in those roles.

As I started sifting through the rest of the image files, I asked my family to help me find the right music. In short order I had a list of 25 songs, and then it grew to 40 songs, and it was all a bit overwhelming because there was just so much music that Matt liked. Every choice of a song meant eliminating five or six other wonderful songs, and I really wanted to get it right to tell the story of Matt’s life.

Once I finished and shared it with a few people, I wanted to start all over again to make different choices with... Read more different music so that it could tell the complete story. But that’s just not possible. Each picture is just a freeze-frame image from one moment of Matt in one of his roles. We each had some connection to one or more of those roles, but even the people closest to him didn’t have the complete picture. He was a son, a brother, a friend, a father, a grandfather, a co-worker, a neighbor, a leader in the community, and he had countless interactions that remain private and intimate with just the other people in those moments. If Covid taught us anything, it’s just how important all those micro-interactions we have with others are. They keep us grounded and connected to the people closest to us and to our community.

So now when we want to celebrate his life, we are tasked with sharing some of those micro-interactions. Just like I hadn’t seen Matt operating in his role as a professor, maybe you haven't seen Matt the brother or Matt the grandfather or Matt the coach.

So let me tell you a little anecdote of Matt the father. Or uncle. I’m not sure which. I don’t have children, so I never learned the fine art of diapering. In my role as an uncle, if conditions warranted a diaper change, my long arms suddenly became too short, and I’d ask, “Who wants this baby?” Matt would often volunteer. So one time with either Ryan or Skylar, I’m not sure which—I know it wasn’t Diane or Amber, for reasons that will become clear in a moment—Matt proceeded to change the diaper, choosing to revisit the hip-hugging 1970s in the process. Now, I didn’t know this before, but evidently babies sometimes wait for a diaper change to soil the new diaper or to empty their bladder. Who knew? So just after Matt put on the new diaper, slung way down low, nature called, and with the business end of this bodily function poking out over the waistband of the diaper, suddenly there’s this rain bird sprinkler going off. Teri saw this and was just amazed that this was the way Matt put on a diaper. Matt responded with his characteristic sheepish giggle, and apologized and then redid the whole thing.

Each of us has our own little stories to share of our unique interactions with Matt, and I hope today you’ll share yours so that we have a more complete understanding of this incredible man. Read less

I’m Matt’s brother-in-law, John, and my sister asked me to put together a slideshow for today, and so we started collecting photos from family, friends, and co-workers. In the collection of files was a short video of Matt speaking at a graduation ceremony, and it occurred to me that I had never seen Matt being a professor. Of course, I knew he was a professor, and I’d heard he was the President of the faculty senate, but I had never seen him acting in those roles.

As I started sifting through... Read more the rest of the image files, I asked my family to help me find the right music. In short order I had a list of 25 songs, and then it grew to 40 songs, and it was all a bit overwhelming because there was just so much music that Matt liked. Every choice of a song meant eliminating five or six other wonderful songs, and I really wanted to get it right to tell the story of Matt’s life.

Once I finished and shared it with a few people, I wanted to start all over again to make different choices with different music so that it could tell the complete story. But that’s just not possible. Each picture is just a freeze-frame image from one moment of Matt in one of his roles. We each had some connection to one or more of those roles, but even the people closest to him didn’t have the complete picture. He was a son, a brother, a friend, a father, a grandfather, a co-worker, a neighbor, a leader in the community, and he had countless interactions that remain private and intimate with just the other people in those moments. If Covid taught us anything, it’s just how important all those micro-interactions we have with others are. They keep us grounded and connected to the people closest to us and to our community.

So now when we want to celebrate his life, we are tasked with sharing some of those micro-interactions. Just like I hadn’t seen Matt operating in his role as a professor, maybe you haven't seen Matt the brother or Matt the grandfather or Matt the coach.

So let me tell you a little anecdote of Matt the father. Or uncle. I’m not sure which. I don’t have children, so I never learned the fine art of diapering. In my role as an uncle, if conditions warranted a diaper change, my long arms suddenly became too short, and I’d ask, “Who wants this baby?” Matt would often volunteer. So one time with either Ryan or Skylar, I’m not sure which—I know it wasn’t Diane or Amber, for reasons that will become clear in a moment—Matt proceeded to change the diaper, choosing to revisit the hip-hugging 1970s in the process. Now, I didn’t know this before, but evidently babies sometimes wait for a diaper change to soil the new diaper or to empty their bladder. Who knew? So just after Matt put on the new diaper, slung way down low, nature called, and with the business end of this bodily function poking out over the waistband of the diaper, suddenly there’s this rain bird sprinkler going off. Teri saw this and was just amazed that this was the way Matt put on a diaper. Matt responded with his characteristic sheepish giggle, and apologized and then redid the whole thing.

Each of us has our own little stories to share of our unique interactions with Matt, and I hope today you’ll share yours so that we have a more complete understanding of this incredible man. Read less