Name: Calling hours for Matthew Plaza
Start: 2023-04-23T18:00:00.000Z
End: 2023-04-23T20:00:00.000Z
Location: Ladd-Turkington & Carmon Funeral Home

Matthew Plaza, 53, of Vernon, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on Monday, April 17, 2023. He was the beloved son of Robert Plaza and Carol Blair-Mercugliano born June 21, 1969, in Manchester. Matthew was a graduate of Rockville High School, Class of 1987. He continued his education graduating from UConn, class of 1991. He was a longtime resident of Vernon. Matthew was happiest with his family and friends. He loved everything baseball, but especially the New York Yankees and the Vernon Little League. Matthew played little league baseball and later coached several teams. He was an amazing coach who focused on the love of the game and being part of a team. The family would like to acknowledge the care and kindness Matthew received from Gaylord Hospital, Apple Rehab Rocky Hill and Hartford Hospital. In addition to his parents, he is survived by his sister Coleen Maughan, his aunt Karen Plaza, his nieces Victoria Maughan, Mary Rose Maughan, nephew John Maughan, several aunts, uncles, cousins, and dear friends. His family will receive friends for calling hours on Sunday, April 23 from 2-4 p.m. at Ladd-Turkington & Carmon Funeral Home, 551 Talcottville Road (Route 83), Vernon. A Mass of Christian Burial will be Monday, April 24 at 10 a.m. at St. Bernard Church, 25 St. Bernard Terrace, Vernon. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory can be made to Vernon-Rockville Little League on their site Vernon-RockvilleLittleLeague.org or VRLL P.O. Box 3087 Vernon Ct 06066. For online condolences and guest book, please visit www.carmonfuneralhome.com

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Hartford Courant on Apr. 21, 2023.

Memories and Condolences
for Matthew Plaza

Sponsored by the family.

11 Entries

Anna Piranian

June 22, 2025

My dear friend. My best friend at Shea & Gardner. My partner in crime. The guy who had Play Doh in his office because he loved the smell, even as a grown up; who used a Slinky Dink to drive me crazy at my desk around the corner; who joined my paper clips together for kicks, knowing that drove me insane; who was too afraid to catch the gigantic cockroach in our hallway - forcing me to catch it by cup and gag as we ran down the hallway and you flushed it for me - it was fun not letting you forget that; who went out of his way to make me Kahlua & Milk to impress me at a party at his apartment (instead of using cream, which he didn´t realize, but that only made us laugh harder looking back); who nursed me through a break-up; who stayed by my bedside the entire night when I was taken to the ER; who stayed late doing litigation filings with me; who made me laugh allllllll the time; who brilliantly talked politics and the Yanks like they were interchangeable subjects; who worked on a high powered man´s rolodex cards and relished seeing whose names and numbers were in there, proud that he was trusted with the task; who bravely hid the pain his extreme psoriasis caused him, when most of us wanted to cry knowing what it was doing to him ...I could go on and on. How very brokenhearted I am to learn of your passing. You were such a special friend to me. I was crushed when you moved up north, but excited for you. How lucky your sister´s children were to have you coaching their team. I know it meant the world to you. I´m so very glad you had your family with you in your final moments. I´ll see you again, Grobbler. A huge hug for you. I sent you your birthday text today - June 21st has always been "don´t forget Matt´s birthday today," even all these years later. I will cherish these memories deep in my heart.

Keith Doss

June 21, 2023

Rip my dear Friend since Kindergarten, I am so sorry I was not aware due to having surgery in March MAY GOD BE WITH YOU AND YOUR FAMILY ,KEITH DOSS.

Doug Czajkowski

May 4, 2023

I graduated high school with Matt in the class of 1987. We didn't hang out a lot together, but we always knew each other through our different groups of friends. We spent a lot of time or at least I did, with him in all of our college classes, and I will always remember seeing that yellow Corvette Stingray in the student parking lot in the morning! A great guy to all who knew him! God bless

Eric Jacobsen

April 23, 2023

I grew up across the street from Matt and one of my earliest memories was when Carol had me "break into" their house through an open window when she was locked out. 45 years later I still remember the popsicle I received as a reward (it was chocolate).

Matt was a few years older than me but we shared many interests and became great friends. I will never forget the great times we had as kids playing chase, laser tag, Dungeons and Dragons, and whatever sport was in season. When I turned 9, Matt game me a book (The Hobbit) that spurred a love for reading and for that I remain in his debt always. The consummate coach, he utilized the latest technology (the camcorder....) to tape my baseball games and give me pointers. It made me feel like a superstar. Matt didn´t have to come to my games, he did it because he was a great friend and an amazing person.

Childhood games inevitably gave way to the realities of growing up and I didn´t see him as much anymore but I thought of him often and always with a smile. The truth is I idolized Matt when were kids and to this day I haven´t met anyone with his combination of wit, intellect, and kindness. Thank you for being my friend and I hope somewhere you are enjoying the smell of fresh cut grass and the sound of "Play ball!"

Christy Bearse

April 22, 2023

I am so sorry to hear about Matt. We grew up with Matt and Coleen...and will always be connected with our Duncaster Lane friends and have so many wonderful childhood memories. Sending our love and thinking of you.

Sandi Brooks

April 21, 2023

David and have been friends since the day we moved into our house 3 doors away from the Plaza family. That was in 1971 and have been friends ever since. I have many fond memories of Matt and his sense of humor. My condolences to the Plaza family.

Mike dePascale

April 21, 2023

My condolences to all of Matt´s family and friends. We all lost a good guy.

David Brooks

April 21, 2023

My deepest condolences to the family. I am devastated by this news. Matt has been a part of my life for longer than I can actually remember so it´s impossible to imagine life without him. I am beyond blessed to have him be such a key part of my life.

I have so many memories but given Matt´s love for the Yankees the standout one has to be when his parents took us to Boston for a Yankees game. I don´t recall how old we were but the fact that we were so young is probably the only reason we escaped unscathed wearing Yankees caps in the stands of Fenway.

May his memory be a blessing.

Cookie Ortiz

April 21, 2023

Carol, so sorry for your loss. Cookie

Jeri and Sal Terranova

April 21, 2023

Our deepest condolences to Matt's family. He was our son (Mark Terranova) friend starting from high school and on through the years. We have so many fond memories. Our prayers to the family.