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Matthew Merchant Obituary
Matthew John "Matt" Merchant passed suddenly on the morning of July 6th, 2015. Matt was born on December 13th, 1961 in Shaker Heights, OH. Matt attended Shaker Heights High School and received his BS from Miami University of Ohio. Matt then received his MBA from Case Western Reserve University. Since beginning his career at GE in 1999, Matt filled a variety of positions including CTO and Global Managing Director. He was extremely intelligent and a highly sought-after expert. Matt traveled the world, spoke at conferences, and was highlighted in Forbes Magazine for his achievements in streamlining communication within GE Capital. Outside of work, Matt was an avid photographer, sailor, cyclist, gourmet chef and lover of fine wine and whiskies. Matt was always a beloved dinner "guest" and would never leave home without his own knives, seasonings, and condiments. In addition, every meal Matt created was carefully crafted from beginning to end and bore his unforgettably unique touch. When not troubleshooting for GE or cooking with friends, Matt could be found sharing his passions of cycling, sailing, or playing soccer with his beloved daughters and wife. Family games of soccer in the front yard were commonplace. Ruth, Lilly, and Madeline annually trained for and participated in the CT Challenge with Matt. He passed on his quick humor and love of technology to his daughter Marie-elle. Weekly sailing races were also a staple in Matt's life as he demonstrated his love for spending time on the water. Of course, not a moment of these activities went undocumented by his impressively sophisticated camera. Matt was a dedicated and active member of the Southport Congregational Church. He demonstrated his commitment to his faith and the congregation by serving on several Church committees and developed both the Church website and a website to register volunteers and organize community service activities. Matt loved his church family and was well loved by the SCC community. Matt was loved and adored by his wife, children, family and friends. Matt will be missed for his big smile and big heart. He approached life with a gusto and exuberance that made him a joy to know and love. Matt is survived by his wife, Ruth; children, Marie-elle, Lilly and Madeline; his parents Chuck and Rosemary; sisters Ann (Peter Eble), Karen (Brian Coate), and Sarah (Pawan Divakarla) as well as many nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the CT Challenge in Memory of Matthew Merchant. On-line donations may be made at:http://2015ctchallenge.kintera.org/mattmerchant. You may also contribute by check, payable to Connecticut Challenge and sent to CT Challenge, 250 Pequot Ave., Southport, CT 06890. A memorial service will be held Saturday, July 11th at 10:30 am at Southport Congregational Church, 524 Pequot Avenue, Southport, CT. Lunch to follow the service. A memorial mass will be held Saturday, July 18th at 11am at Church of St. Dominic, 19000 Van Aken Boulevard, Shaker Heights, OH. Lunch will follow the mass. For information or to sign an online guest register please visit www.SpearMillerFuneralHome.com
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Matthew Merchant
Rick Ahlgren
July 3, 2025
Matt was a great friend and client to work for. He always lit up the room and was known for his honesty and integrity. RIP Matt.
Karloff
July 3, 2024
I was a Vendor Partner of GE and met Matt at several GE meetings. He went to Chef Conf in 2015 and we had an amazing conference with Chef and the GE team. Matt was simply an amazing human being and in the short time we met they were so memorable. Miss you Matt!
Karloff Rosario
July 3, 2021
I have been so lucky and blessed to have met Matt. What an amazing person and truly very special. A gift to have met him though it was short, he makes me smile every time I think of him! RIP my friend!
Doug Weiner
January 10, 2020
Thinking about you today.
Joe Lyons
July 3, 2019
Matt, your friendship, mentorship, and your dare-to-be-great attitude toward life and business is missed sorely. Miss you, Matt.
Joseph Lyons
August 12, 2015
Matt and I met 10 years ago. He was my mentor, my trusted friend. He was so excited about his family, church, and work. I'm shocked and my heart goes out to his entire family. Miss you, Matt!
Ronni Colville
August 5, 2015
I had the pleasure of knowing Matt from his work at GE. He was well known and respected from an IT industry perspective. I will miss his good-natured candor and intelligence.
Ellen Kyle
July 30, 2015
My heartfelt sympathy to you Rosemary and Chuck; a faraway acquaintance, Ellen Kyle
Jenny Gee Wah
July 29, 2015
Matt Merchant. You are an A1 person. Thanks for making our lives better with you in it. Rest in peace my friend.
gasner dervil
July 24, 2015
learning mat"s deaf was a shock .he was a man of integrity ,a wonderful man .surely he will be missed by many
July 15, 2015
Dear Merchant Family,
You were so kind to my baby and me when my husband died of a heart attack at 38, remember he died in Lome, Togo, Africa just before or 2 nod wedding anniversary. ..and you kept praying for us, so now it is our turn, my baby is 13 now and he and I will keep you in our prayers.
Diana and Isaac
Vito Chimienti
July 15, 2015
Matt was a quality person and a great leader. I learned much from him and am truly sorry for his family's loss.
Torsten Rueter
July 15, 2015
My deepest sympathies to Matt's family. He will surely be missed. I had the honour of working with Matt for many years and for him for the past year and really appreciated his leadership, no-nonsense style, humour, and warmth. He will be sorely missed and his passing has left all of us in shock.
Paulie
July 14, 2015
Rest in Peace, dear cousin. The only thing I can figure is that God must have decided He needed a new "idea guy". You are going to keep Him very busy...
Jean Dervil
July 14, 2015
I had the pleasure of knowing Matt and working either for him or with him for the last 9 years. My fondest memories are of his sense of humor. He was a great mentor, boss, and friend and helped motivate me in my career and life in many ways. I want to offer my deepest condolences to the Merchant family and my family continues to keep them in our prayers during this difficult time. May the Lord grant unto him eternal rest and may he rest in peace. Amen.
Liz Owen
July 14, 2015
I was deeply saddened by the news of my first boyfriend at SHHS suddenly passing. We had many great times - the marching band, out with Suzy and Matt N. and the gang, reconnecting when I lived in Philadelphia and he was in NYC in the later 80s... Great Stories, Great Memories. My condolences to the family and all of Matt's friends on a loss far too soon.
Nathan Stout
July 14, 2015
I can't remember a time Matt wasn't smiling or saying something encouraging. He was a pleasure to be around and I value the time we shared working at GE. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Marc Vooijs
July 13, 2015
Dear Chuck Rosemary, Ann Karen and Sarah. We just received the sad news of the passing away of Matt. You are in our thoughts as we hope you find the strength to cope with this terrible loss. Marc Mascha, Aurelle Romeyn and Timmin Vooijs (The Netherlands)
Doug Weiner
July 12, 2015
Matt and I were close friends in high school. Helluva good guy, smart as a whip and much fun to just be with. His time here ended way too soon. You are missed, Matt.
Jo Shoppee
July 12, 2015
I had the privilege of calling Matt my manager. The warmth of his smile and the sparkle in his eyes shines bright in my memory of a great leader and advocate. Clearly in love with his family my heavy heart sends deepest sympathies - you are in my thoughts and prayers.
Verghese family
July 12, 2015
Words cannot express our shock. Bernie and the girls are in the UK - all of us fondly remember the time we spent together in Fairfield last Spring Break. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Carol Russell
July 12, 2015
My thoughts and prayers are with the Merchant family. Hold tight to the memories that will stay in your hearts forever.
Nancy Morse
July 12, 2015
So sorry for your loss. Matt was a bright light in world and at GE. You are all in my thoughts and prayers.
July 12, 2015
We all at Bhubaneswar and Hyderabad remember Matt for his outstanding leadership and perfect strategies. May God keep his soul in peace. We are Praying for his soul. Keshav Tripathy
Michele Gabriele
July 11, 2015
The memorial service today was beautiful and heartfelt. I hired Matt into GE in 1999 at GE Small Business Solutions. I remember his passion for technology, energy, humor, smile and caring personality. Every time I saw him he would say how's Ryan, my son, doing. Matt was a great guy and will be missed ! My sincere condolences to Matt's family.
Sukh Grewal
July 10, 2015
Matt was a friend and colleague through many a battle to keep the web site up and running. He was always there when he was needed. Still think about the late hours on conference calls trying to fix the problems. Matt was known to recognize new trends and technologies before anyone else and was always "leading edge".
And then in Detroit, at a gourmet team cooking class, we found out that Matt was in a different league from us mere cooks.
My prayers are with you and the girls in bearing this tremendous loss.
Shawna Feeley
July 10, 2015
I am so sorry for your devastating loss. Matt was a great dad and a very nice man who always had a smile on his face. Ruth, you and the girls are in our prayers.
Karen Higgins-Carter
July 10, 2015
A fond memory of Matt was when I was trying to concentrate in a fairly formal GE meeting as he sat next to me, continuing to giggle while he shared pictures of his daughters as Ruth was texting them to him. He was a trusted, honest colleague whose easy laugh and genuine sparkle will be missed.
Harvinder Madan
July 10, 2015
Deeply saddened and shocked by untimely departure of Matt, he will be missed by all of his GE colleagues. Heartfelt condolences for the Merchant family.
Harvinder Madan
July 10, 2015
Deeply saddened and shocked by untimely departure of Matt, he will be missed by all of his GE colleagues. Heartfelt condolences for the Merchant family.
Erin Rafferty
July 10, 2015
Matt was a mentor and a friend. I will always remember his positive attitude, his big smile and his laugh. I will miss him! My thoughts and prayers are with his family during this very difficult time.
July 10, 2015
Ruth, We are so very sorry for your loss of Matt. There are no words to adequately express our deepest sympathy. Please know we hold you, your beautiful daughters and your and Matt's family close in our thoughts and prayers. Love, Jennifer and Wayne
Rick Cornish
July 10, 2015
My thoughts and prayers are with the Merchant family and friends. I thoroughly enjoyed working for Matt and getting to know him over the past couple of years. He will be missed by all.
Pat MacMonagle
July 10, 2015
So very sorry to hear this. Matt was such a terrific guy. Deepest condolences to the family.
Ajay Gupta
July 10, 2015
Matt was a pleasure to be around with that big, warm smile. He will be missed. My sincerest condolences to the family - Matt always spoke of you so fondly.
Anne Alzapiedi
July 10, 2015
Sending my deepest sympathy to the Merchant family. Matt was a pleasure to work with and he will be very missed. My prayers are with your family.
Oran O'Dowd
July 10, 2015
I had the privilege of working as a direct report to Matt in GE over the past 3 years. I can honestly say that I will forever remember, and be grateful for, the unending support, advice, and great friendship that Matt gave me every single day during that time. I send my deepest sympathy and condolences to Matt's family. May he rest in peace.
Pedro Family
July 10, 2015
We are so sorry for your loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this difficult time.
Lars Holm
July 10, 2015
Have enjoyed working with Matt thought the past years a lot, always being friendly and inspiring.
My thoughts go to Matts loved ones, we will always remember him.
Vince Campisi
July 10, 2015
This picture captures the way I remember Matt and I can still hear his laugh. My respect for Matt is further strengthened, and my sympathy for his family deepened, after reading his eulogy. My sincerest condolences to his family. Matt you will be deeply missed.
Saurabh Ganeriwala
July 10, 2015
Matt was a great person to work with. He will be missed always. Heartfelt Condolence to the family.
Julie Skrabanek
July 9, 2015
Ruth,
This is Julie, Sandy's sister... I'm so very sorry for your loss. Please know that we are praying for you and your precious girls.
Shakeel Ahmad
July 9, 2015
Matt was such a great guy to work with and a great leader. My deepest condolences to his family.
Rest in peace.
wayne uejio
July 9, 2015
Truly sorry to hear of Matt's passing. found him to be a very good manager
July 9, 2015
Boyd and Mary Lou Matteson from Chautauqua Lake send their sincere condolences to Rosemary and Chuck Merchant. We are so sorry to hear of the loss of your son.
July 9, 2015
Dear Merchant Family....Please know that Matt and all of the extended Merchant family are in our prayers...Many wonderful memories of all the
Years that we watched our children grew and develope into such special adults..I am sorry not to be with you to personally extend my condlence.
Love from the RuggieFamily
Bob Johnson
July 9, 2015
Rosemary, I am saddened to learn of your loss and the grief that your family is enduring. Please know that I send my deepest sympathy and pray for God's peace and comfort in the days ahead.
July 9, 2015
Rest in Peace
Marleen Coté
July 9, 2015
Sending my deepest sympathy and prayers to Matt's family. He was a wonderful man and a great boss.
Pete Munsch
July 9, 2015
Matt was great mentor and friend to many of us here at GE and will be sorely missed. My deepest condolences to his family.
Sandy and Nick Burgoyne
July 9, 2015
My heart is aching for the Merchant family. I had the privilege of working with Matt 15 years ago during our GE SBS days. Even better than that though was the friendship we formed with Matt and Ruth and their precious daughters. Ruth, we love you so much. Matt will be missed more than I can say but will always be in our hearts. The Merchant family is in our thoughts and prayers.
Hank Zupnick
July 9, 2015
What stands out about Matt, who I had the privilege to work with for many years at GE, was his intelligence, humility and high ethical standards. He was a great person, and will be missed.
Martha Poulter
July 9, 2015
Matt was a sharp technologist and a trusted colleague to many in the GE family. We will miss his warm spirit, his charge on challenging problems, and ability to bring a smile to all. My deepest condolences to all of Matt's family.
Karloff Rosario
July 9, 2015
Just a great guy who was full of life. He will be missed by all who knew him..
Sampath Saagi
July 9, 2015
I'm deeply saddened by the news of Matt's passing. Matt was a good friend, customer and mentor. He was always welcoming, humble, cheerful and amazing person to work with. My deepest condolences to Matt's family and friends. My prayers are with Matt's family in this difficult time.
Doug Burry
July 9, 2015
My heart aches for the Merchant family. Growing up next door in Shaker Hts are still some of the fondest memories of my life. My thoughts and prayers are with you all.
Donna Jette
July 9, 2015
Deepest condolences to Matt's family and friends. Although I didn't know him I am saddened. He lived a full life and was taken to the next way too soon. So very sorry for your loss. Heartfelt prayers.
Sue Hornstra
July 9, 2015
I am so sorry for your loss. Matt was a terrific person and I enjoyed working with him at GE. His joy was contagious. My prayers are with all of Matt's family during this most difficult time. He will always be with you.
Rick Ahlgren
July 9, 2015
Matt was such a genuine person and a close friend that I worked with for several years and enjoyed every minute of it. Ruth, out thoughts and prayers go out to you and your beautiful family.
Lisa Lieber Emigh
July 9, 2015
This is such a loss to everyone who knew Matt. He was a bright light to many - to his friends from Shaker, and to everyone else in his personal and work life. A sweet, loving, smart, funny guy .. he will be missed. My thoughts are with his Cleveland, Connecticut and GE families.
Tony Gaeta
July 9, 2015
a good man and a true friend who willing be missed!
Neil Dyke
July 9, 2015
Always smiling, always happy. Great fun to work with. A great and sad loss.
Justin Arbuckle
July 9, 2015
I will miss Matt's smile, his humour and his sense of fun. Thoughts and prayers are with you all.
Ann Harvey
July 9, 2015
Ruth, you and Matt and your girls are so loved. We just want this love to wrap around your beautiful family like a blanket, forever.
Stephen K
July 9, 2015
I had the pleasure and honour to work with Matt over several years, and I am deeply saddened and will miss our great interactions and friendly banter. I will always remember his professionalism, friendliness and honestly. My thoughts and prayers are with Matts family and friends at this time.
James Cinquegrana
July 8, 2015
I have had the privilege of working for Matt and with him for 15 years. He was one of a kind and will be missed. My heart goes out to his wife, daughters and the entire Merchant family. I am so sorry for your loss.
Shaker Hts., School friends XO
Janet Ney Williams
July 8, 2015
Matt always had a wonderful smile and was kind to everyone. I enjoy reading about all he did in life. He had a full life of so much with family, work, leisure time and friends, what an amazing man. He was a great school mate as well. Matt is going to be missed but he will always be in so many memories of so many people. He touch many hearts. Love you Matt. My prayers to Matt's family and friends. Hold him forever in your heart.
Chait B
July 8, 2015
Matt was a wonderful person to know and work with. He will be truly missed. Heartfelt Condolences to Matt's family.
Dennis Hall
July 8, 2015
Matt was a valued member of the Class of 1980, Shaker Heights High School. Thoughts and Prayers.
Mary Anne Faro
July 8, 2015
Matt was a wonderful man, colleague, and friend. Matt always had a smile on his face and was ready to step in to help others. He will be missed by all. My heart goes out to his wife and family.
Katie and Gerritt Graham
July 8, 2015
We are so heartbroken for you, Ruth, your beautiful girls and all of Matt's family, colleagues and friends. Lighting a candle in his memory seems fitting for a man whose inner light shined so brightly. I will miss his laughter, his ready smile, and his warm and wonderful personality. He was a true gentleman and a gentle man and I feel blessed to have known him. Keeping you all close in thought and prayer in the days ahead and sending all our love and very deepest sympathy.
Brigitte Levy
July 8, 2015
Matt was a brilliant, generous, humble and wonderful colleague. I am privileged to have had the opportunity to work with him. My deepest condolences to his wife, daughters and family. Matt will be deeply missed. With thoughts and prayers, Brigitte
Amy Nash
July 8, 2015
Matt was one of a kind. He will be missed deeply. I am at a loss. My heart goes out to all of Matt's family and friends. He was beloved. So many memories to cherish.
Justin Plock
July 8, 2015
Matt was an amazing colleague, mentor and friend. He will truly be missed. My thoughts and prayers to Matt's family during this difficult time.
Nancy and Noah Lefkowitz/Hendler
July 8, 2015
We wish you love, peace and our prayers for great strength as you face dark times ahead. With our deepest sympathies, the Family Hendler
July 8, 2015
My prayers are with the Family.
Loretta Medve
Ilene Feldman & Harvey Bluestein
July 8, 2015
Keeping you in our thoughts and our prayers Ruth. We hope that the wonderful memories that you have bring you comfort at this tragic time. Please let us know what we can do to help. With heavy hearts and our sincere condolences,
Mary Ann Wormser
July 8, 2015
Rosemary,
I am so saddened to read about the death of your son. Please know that my thoughts and prayers are with you at this time.
Mary Ann Wormser
Bassel Saade
July 8, 2015
Our deepest condolences and Our Prayers go out to you in this difficult time.
Molly Johnson
July 8, 2015
Ruth, I am so saddened to hear of Matt's passing. You and the girls are in my thoughts as you navigate this difficult time. Love, Molly
Cindy Jackson
July 8, 2015
Matt was an amazing person, role model and an inspiration in so many ways. My thoughts and prayers to Ruth, Lily, Madeline and Mari-Elle. Matt will be greatly missed. xo Cindy, Kirk, Johanna and Drew Jackson
Ryan Kaisoglus
July 8, 2015
Matt was a mentor to many. I know of no one who worked for him that didn't hold him up as the ideal leader, manager and friend. He will be missed and the world is poorer without him in it.
Condolences to Matt's family, friends and co-workers.
David Bernard
July 8, 2015
Our Prayers are with you all in this difficult time.
The Staff of Spear-Miller Funeral Home
July 9, 2015
Offering our deepest condolences during this time.
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