Matthew Arthur Carl Zapf

Wow, I was so shocked to learn of Matt's passing. I knew him as a medical student at Loyola. He was an outstanding student, researcher and most importantly, person. Two things about Matt: He presented a research project at the premiere American academic surgery meeting. At the close of his talk, the head of surgery at UC San Diego stood up and publicly offered Matt a residency spot! And, our research effort ultimately was branded as OnetoMAP with M being Matt. I will always remember Matt as a...

I´ll never forget the three months that we had the privilege of Matt staying with us in Australia. He was like a big brother to me (despite being two years younger). I cherish the memories of watching Bad Santa and the Ali G Show with Matt, I can still hear his infectious laugh. He introduced me to Pearl Jam´s back catalogue, which I´m grateful for. We hit the gym together - and despite buying Mass Gainer, Matt returned home lighter. Our trip to The Great Barrier Reef was made so much more...

Matt in Australia with Olivia, Lewis and I

My family were SO blessed to have Matt live with us for three months when he came to Australia on exchange with my sister Olivia. I seriously thought I was the coolest girl in high school, walking to and from school with "that cool American guy!" I remember our family trip to the Great Barrier Reef and how he absolutely dominated shot put at the school athletics carnival and broke a school record! I remember Matt laying on the living room floor watching Tom Green and laughing (I can still...

I was lucky and blessed to have been paired up with Matt for the New Trier/Pittwater Exchange Program. Having been on such a unique journey and experience together, Matt quickly became my American brother and to this day am so incredibly grateful to the Zapf Family for opening their arms to me. My American Family. I will cherish the moments and memories forever. Love and hugs to the Zapf-McKittrick Family from Sydney, Australia

The scene is the Casey Family Reunion in Michigan. I had a bad case of the hiccups, and for an hour I was trying every old remedy in the book but nothing was working. I vividly remember very being in the kitchen in line for a build-your-own taco dinner. Cousin Matt and I are next to each other and he very casually asks me if I had any books I was reading. I say yes and tell him the title of the book that Bette gave me. He immediately follows up with seemingly random and intensely specific...

Laura and I send our deepest condolences to Melissa and the entire Zapf family. You are in our thoughts every day. The beautifully written obituary absolutely captured who Matt Jr. is - he is all that. Ken and Laura Ulrich

I worked with Matt at the sim lab at Evanston before medical school. He was bright and so passionate about medicine. He took every opportunity to learn and to be ready for medical school. We went on a medical mission to Honduras and he jumped in and helped in every way he could He made me laugh everyday that our paths crossed. I was so sad to hear this awful news.

Offering our heartfelt condolences and prayers to all of Matt´s family. Remembering occasions of meeting up with him, his parents, brothers and sisters in Peoria, Chicago and as far away as London, England. With Love, Grace and Peace to the Zapfs.