Matthew DeGennaro

 Matthew DeGennaro, 79, passed away peacefully on Sunday, July 26, 2020 in Charleston, SC surrounded by his loving family. 

Born in Hoboken, NJ “Matty” grew up with a love for horses and racing cars. He worked tirelessly to provide for his family, starting with his first job delivering newspapers before he was 10-years-old. With his father, Matty opened his own business more than 50 years ago - Mate Trucking, Inc. - which he proudly ran alongside his sons until his retirement two years ago. A wealth of advice, one of his favorites was: “If you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life.” The business remains in the DeGennaro family and will forever be a part of Matthew’s legacy.

Matthew loved boats of all kinds - from sport fishing boats that took him to tournament after tournament with his sons, to speedboats he’d ride slowly through the lagoon to put his two daughters to sleep,  he’d take on ambitious trips from New Jersey to Florida with his boats to return with incredible stories of good times spent with friends he held dear. He raised his children in Toms River, NJ which kept him on the water and always ready for a quick boat ride for  breakfast with Italian rolls and coffee in tow, or on a summer night to watch the fireworks over the bay. Nothing made him happier, except his loving wife Pat. 

Matthew spent his last years retired in Charleston, SC. Though it was hard for him to imagine days without work, he quickly grew to love mornings eating French toast at “Queen”, afternoons spent napping on Folly Beach, and evenings sitting on the back porch watching the birds and listening to all of the neighborhood dogs . 

He was happy and loved so very much for all of his days.

Matthew is predeceased by his parents, Louis and Margaret DeGennaro, his brother, Morris DeGennaro, and his sister, Marie DeGennaro Foglio. 

He is survived by his wife, Patricia; his children and their spouses, Matthew DeGennaro (Anna), Darren DeGennaro (Daiana), Felicia Pease (Randy), and Margaret McCarthy (Jake); and his 5 grandchildren, Nicole, Nicholas, Taylor, Matthew and Michael. 

Visitation will be Saturday August 1, 2020 from  9:00 am -11:00 am at Colonial Funeral Home, 2170 Hwy.88 A graveside service will follow 11:30 am at St. Joseph’s Cemetery, 56 Cedar Grove Rd, Toms River, NJ 08753. The family asks that attendees wear masks and observe social distancing guidelines for your safety as well as ours.  

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in honor of Matthew. Because of their incredible care and research, he had a running start in his five-year-long fight against cancer. To donate in Matthew’s memory, visit: http://mskcc.convio.net/goto/MatthewDeGennaro.