Taps for The Man Who Gave Me The Balboni Case, Ron Mathews
Ronald Scott Matthew
March 3, 1945-April 25, 2014
March 3, 1945-April 25, 2014
Ronald Scott Matthew of Bellevue, WA, died Friday, April 25, at home, at the age of 69.
Mr. Matthew was born March 3, 1945, in Berkeley, CA, the son of Norman Matthew and Anne Egli Matthew. He graduated from Hillsdale High School, in San Mateo, CA, in 1963 and from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London, CT, in 1968. He served in the Coast Guard for 27 years as a legal officer, attaining the rank of Captain. He graduated from McGeorge School of Law in 1973 with a juris doctorate degree. He was known as an honest lawyer with the highest degree of integrity--not just in his legal dealings but in his entire approach to life.
He and his wife, Judith Place Matthew, were married September 25, 1982, in San Francisco. Their son, Allan, was born in June, 1984. Mr. Matthew’s Coast Guard career took him to many places, including Honolulu, HI; Juneau, AK; Washington D.C.; Long Beach, CA; San Francisco, CA; Governors Island, NY; back to D.C., and Seattle. The family moved to Bellevue in 1990. Mr. Matthew retired from the Coast Guard in 1995, and went on to work for the City of Bellevue in mediation and neighborhood outreach for 10 years.
Mr. Matthew loved his family, friends, and nature. During his years in California, he located and purchased 120 acres of land in the Sierra Nevada mountain range, property the family came to call Matthew Meadow. Mr. Matthew loved being a steward of these “delicious mountains”. Gatherings of family and friends there each summer were a highlight. He was generous, intelligent, and had a great sense of humor. He enjoyed photography and was known for the amazing digital photo albums he created, as well as an annual Christmas card featuring views from their deck taken on travels around the world. He also enjoyed hiking and model-making (especially lighthouse models).
Mr. Matthew lived by the creed capsulized in the poem “My Creed” by Edgar A. Guest, which reads in part, “To live undaunted, unafraid, Of any step that I have made; To be without pretense or sham, Exactly what men think I am.” He lived out the Coast Guard motto, “semper paratus”--always ready. Family and friends were awed by the strength and courage he showed during his 3-year battle with ALS.
He is survived by his wife, Judith, son and daughter-in-law Allan and Megan Matthew, mother, Anne Matthew, sisters Nancy Hain and husband Bill of Alna, ME, and Helen of Walnut Creek, CA.
The family thanks Ron’s dedicated caregiver, Mphatso Namwali, for the excellent care he provided. “Mr. Namwali always demonstrated compassion and superb skill in his care of Ron. We are very grateful to him,” they said.
A celebration of life will be held later, and his ashes will be spread at Matthew Meadow. Memorial contributions are suggested to Save the Redwoods League, 114 Sansome St. Suite 1200, San Francisco, CA 94104, www.savetheredwoods.org <http://www.savetheredwoods.org/> or the ALS Association, Evergreen Chapter, http://www.alsa.org/ <http://www.alsa.org/>
Mr. Matthew was born March 3, 1945, in Berkeley, CA, the son of Norman Matthew and Anne Egli Matthew. He graduated from Hillsdale High School, in San Mateo, CA, in 1963 and from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London, CT, in 1968. He served in the Coast Guard for 27 years as a legal officer, attaining the rank of Captain. He graduated from McGeorge School of Law in 1973 with a juris doctorate degree. He was known as an honest lawyer with the highest degree of integrity--not just in his legal dealings but in his entire approach to life.
He and his wife, Judith Place Matthew, were married September 25, 1982, in San Francisco. Their son, Allan, was born in June, 1984. Mr. Matthew’s Coast Guard career took him to many places, including Honolulu, HI; Juneau, AK; Washington D.C.; Long Beach, CA; San Francisco, CA; Governors Island, NY; back to D.C., and Seattle. The family moved to Bellevue in 1990. Mr. Matthew retired from the Coast Guard in 1995, and went on to work for the City of Bellevue in mediation and neighborhood outreach for 10 years.
Mr. Matthew loved his family, friends, and nature. During his years in California, he located and purchased 120 acres of land in the Sierra Nevada mountain range, property the family came to call Matthew Meadow. Mr. Matthew loved being a steward of these “delicious mountains”. Gatherings of family and friends there each summer were a highlight. He was generous, intelligent, and had a great sense of humor. He enjoyed photography and was known for the amazing digital photo albums he created, as well as an annual Christmas card featuring views from their deck taken on travels around the world. He also enjoyed hiking and model-making (especially lighthouse models).
Mr. Matthew lived by the creed capsulized in the poem “My Creed” by Edgar A. Guest, which reads in part, “To live undaunted, unafraid, Of any step that I have made; To be without pretense or sham, Exactly what men think I am.” He lived out the Coast Guard motto, “semper paratus”--always ready. Family and friends were awed by the strength and courage he showed during his 3-year battle with ALS.
He is survived by his wife, Judith, son and daughter-in-law Allan and Megan Matthew, mother, Anne Matthew, sisters Nancy Hain and husband Bill of Alna, ME, and Helen of Walnut Creek, CA.
The family thanks Ron’s dedicated caregiver, Mphatso Namwali, for the excellent care he provided. “Mr. Namwali always demonstrated compassion and superb skill in his care of Ron. We are very grateful to him,” they said.
A celebration of life will be held later, and his ashes will be spread at Matthew Meadow. Memorial contributions are suggested to Save the Redwoods League, 114 Sansome St. Suite 1200, San Francisco, CA 94104, www.savetheredwoods.org <http://www.savetheredwoods.org/> or the ALS Association, Evergreen Chapter, http://www.alsa.org/ <http://www.alsa.org/>
"My Creed"
By Edgar A. Guest
To live as gently as I can,
To be, no matter where, a man,
To take what comes of good or ill,
and cling to faith and honor still,
to do my best and let that stand,
the record of my pen and hand,
And then, should failure come to me
Still work and hope for victory.
To have no secret place wherein
I stoop unseen to shame or sin;
To be the same when I'm alone
As when my every deed is known;
To live undaunted, unafraid
Of any step that I have made;
To be without pretense or sham
Exactly what men think I am.
To leave some simple mark behind
To keep my having lived in mind;
If enmity to aught I show
to be an honest, generous foe:
To play my little part, not whine
That greater honors are not mine.
this, I believe, is all I need
For my philosophy and creed."
By Edgar A. Guest
To live as gently as I can,
To be, no matter where, a man,
To take what comes of good or ill,
and cling to faith and honor still,
to do my best and let that stand,
the record of my pen and hand,
And then, should failure come to me
Still work and hope for victory.
To have no secret place wherein
I stoop unseen to shame or sin;
To be the same when I'm alone
As when my every deed is known;
To live undaunted, unafraid
Of any step that I have made;
To be without pretense or sham
Exactly what men think I am.
To leave some simple mark behind
To keep my having lived in mind;
If enmity to aught I show
to be an honest, generous foe:
To play my little part, not whine
That greater honors are not mine.
this, I believe, is all I need
For my philosophy and creed."
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