MATTHEW
STEPHEN BUDROW
BREMEN,
ME
Matthew
Stephen Budrow, age 24, a high
school teacher, coach and
lobsterman from Round Pond and Bremen,
passed away on March 2nd
2008 as a result of a snowmobile
accident. Matthew
was born in Gloucester,
MA on June 15th
1983. He was
the son of Michael and Angela
Budrow, and big brother
to Anna Budrow.
Matthew
and his parents moved to Round
Pond, where Matthew helped build
their home, in 1988.
He became the most
wonderful big brother to Anna in
1993. He had
waited a long tome for her, and
loved and cherished her.
Matthew attended Bristol
Consolidated School and
graduated from Lincoln Academy
in 2001, where Matthew’s gift
of unconditional friendships
began to grow. In
grade school, and in high
school, he was an excellent
student and a multi-sport
athlete. He
earned many awards at B.C.S. and
received varsity letters at
Lincoln Academy in tennis (KVAC
champs), track, baseball, soccer
and basketball. He
captained both the soccer and
basketball teams his senior
year. Matthew’s
true love of basketball could be
highlighted by his heartfelt
philosophy of “There is no I
in team”. He
was a true team player.
There
were many highlights, but two
that standout are when he earned
a triple double in an away game
against Rockland, and the
evening Howie Ryder requested a
slam dunk against Camden
and did Matthew ever deliver.
He turned and looked at
Howie with pride, and Howie
smiled and nodded. Later,
Howie told Matthew’s mom, “I
asked him to do that you
know”. He
and many of his teammates would
bring Lincoln Academy fans to
their feet many times, and
filled the Carl Bailey Gym on
numerous evenings.
Matthew
was recruited to play
basketball, and earned his
teaching degree, at Plymouth
State University in New
Hampshire. While
at P.S.U., he was a four-year
member of the basketball team
and was also on the Dean’s
List for academics many times.
On school breaks, he
would come home to substitute
teach at Lincoln and many of the
local grade schools.
It was at P.S.U. where
Matthew met his soulmate, Rachel
Hersey. At
P.S.U. he added to his
increasing circle of life
friends.
Teaching
was in his family; his paternal
grandfather and maternal
great-grandfather were teachers,
and his father, Michael, also
has his degree in teaching.
Matthew had fulfilled a
life goal when he was hired in
2007 for a full time position at
Lincoln Academy to teach and
coach. He had
a very unusual and wonderful
opportunity to coach his baby
sister, which they both
cherished. His
desire to return home, and to
give back to the school and
community that had nurtured him,
was his driving force.
Moving in with his best
friend since third grade, David
Osier, overlooking the harbor
and being back with his buds was
another dream come true.
Generations
of salt water ran through
Matthew’s veins and he began
lobstering at the age of 13.
His maternal grandfather
Stephen “Dubbie” D’Amico
was a commercial fisherman all
his life. Matthew
admired and loved him.
Whether he was on the
coast of Gloucester,
or his beloved Round Pond, his
love and respect of the ocean
was part of him. He
valued, loved, cherished and
respected family, friends,
teachers and coaches
wholeheartedly. Matthew
had a special gift that enabled
him to talk and engage people of
all ages. He
was born to teach, interact, and
guide young people. His
potential as a teacher, coach
and mentor was limitless.
He had a soft,
compassionate side that you knew
you could always rely on and
trust. He
believed everyone should be on
an even playing field in life.
Anyone who has had one of
his big bear hugs knows the
power of his love and his smile
when he walked into a room.
He touched so many lives
in his 24 years with us, and on
ocean of tears encapsulate the
man he had become.
He
leaves behind all the wonderful
teachers, coaches, friends, his
Lincoln Academy family as well
as his second family, the
Osier’s.
He
is survived by his parents,
Michael and Angela Budrow and
his sister, Anna, all of Round
Pond; his soulmate, Rachel
Hersey, and her family; maternal
grandfather, Stephen
“Dubbie” D’Amico; uncles,
Frank and Ray D’Amico; Aunt
Mary White, Aunt Colleen (Budrow)
and her husband, Peter Lacey,
Aunt Karen (Pratt) Budrow, and
Aunt Geraldine (Budrow) Burns,
all of Gloucester,
MA; Uncle John Budrow,
Jr., and Aunt Mary (Budrow)
Pallazola and her husband, Joe,
all of Beverly,
MA; many cousins, Briana
and her husband, Dan Krawczyk,
Stephanie White, John and Nathan
Budrow, Jonathan and Steven
Lacey, Joe and Christine
Pallazola, Krystalyn Burns and
many more.
He
was predeceased by his paternal
grandparents, John F. and
Christine Budrow; his maternal
grandmother, Elizabeth
“Betty” D’Amico, as well
as his uncle, Brian White.
Visiting
hours will be held at the Strong
Funeral Home on Friday, March 7th
from 5:00 – 7:00pm. A
funeral will be held at Lincoln
Academy on Saturday, March 8th
at 10:00am. In lieu of
flowers, donations may be made
in Matthew’s memory to Lincoln
Academy, c/o Kathe Cheska, 81
Academy Hill Road, Newcastle,
ME 04553.
