Matthew Robert Rice

1977 - 2018

It is with tremendous sadness that we tell the world that we have lost a wonderful person, son, brother, father, friend, teacher, soccer coach and artist.

Matthew Robert Rice was born June 25, 1977 in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. He died at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center of a blood clot on June 23, 2018.

Matt will be cremated and a service will be held in Vermont, as he felt he was a Vermonter after 22 years, going to college and settling in Bennington County.

After graduating from Pittsfield High School in 1995, he went on to get a History teaching degree from St. Michael's College in 1999. He immediately got a job as an eighth grade History teacher at Mount Anthony Union Middle School, where he taught for 17 years. Recently, he worked as a tutor at The Tutorial Center and a teacher at the Girls Adolescent Program on Depot St., where he continued to make a difference in young lives.

Early on, Matt played soccer. He played on YMCA house teams and all star traveling teams and then playing for Pittsfield High and St. Michaels College. Matt also played South Little League for ITAM. He was on the All Star team as a 12-year-old. He had one homerun in his life and it was on that team in the playoffs that he hit it over the fence. He played 13-year-old Babe Ruth and made that All Star team. He went on to play at Pittsfield High School thru his junior year. His senior year he tried out and made the Bay State Olympic team from Western Massachusetts. They won the Gold! Matt played on a bum ankle. He put his foot into a bucket of ice when he was not on the field. He was a tough and talented player.

Matt leaves his broken hearted family: His parents Bob and Kathy Rice, his sister Erinn Hnatonko and her husband Jason, their children Landon, Preston, Evan Matthew and Payton Elizabeth. He leaves behind his wife, Brooke Remington and their son Sidney Christopher Rice who will soon be four years old. Matt was a great father, always teaching him something and always doing art projects with him. When Sidney was born, Matt stopped coaching because it was time to coach his son. He has him dribbling and having him watch the World Cup and teaching him about red and yellow cards (which Matt knew a lot about!).

Matt also leaves his grandparents, "Nana Rose" (Mary) and Richard Young; his loving Aunt Sheila and Uncle Bob Bleau, Uncle Jimmy Wetherell and Aunt Laura (Suzi) Breen; many cousins and lifetime friends.

Matt is predeceased by Brooke's father, Chris Remington, who Matt considered a second Father. His is also predeceased by "Papa" (Charles) Rice and "Nana" (Margaret) Rice, "Papa Jim" Wetherell, his Aunt Bunny Rice and Aunt Marie Wetherell.

Friends may call at the funeral home Friday from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. when the family will be in attendance. A time of reflection will be held at Mahar and Son Funeral Home at 3:00pm. A reception will follow.

If friends desire contributions in memory of Matt may be made to the Mahar and Son Funeral Home to help the family with expenses through the office of the Mahar and Son Funeral Home 628 Main St. Bennington, VT 05201.

Guestbook condolences may be made at www.maharandsonfuneralhome.net