Matthew Peter Campbell

1995 - 2020

Matthew Peter Campbell was born in Juneau, Alaska on August 08, 1995 to Andrew and Judy
Campbell. Matthew passed away on April 19, 2020 in Seattle, Washington surrounded by
those that love him most in this world. After being diagnosed with stage four metastasized
Desmoplastic Small Round Cell Tumor Sarcoma, a rare childhood cancer, Matthew continued
living his most amazing life for another ten months filled with love, kindness, music, and
everything and everyone that made him happy. Matthew faced his diagnosis and dismal
prognosis with incredible courage and ramped up everything positive in his life that he was
already doing, all while undergoing extremely aggressive chemotherapy and radiation.

Matthew grew up in Juneau, Alaska on the shores of Douglas Island where he learned to love
everything about Alaska and the beauty and opportunities it can provide. He learned to ski at
Eaglecrest at age two and participated in the Juneau Ski Club racing program. He started
playing hockey at age five, the year Treadwell Arena opened, and participated in JDIA as a
player, referee, and coach until he went to college. Matthew played for the JDHS hockey team
for four years and lettered as a varsity player. Hunting, fishing, hiking, and trips to the family
cabin in Tenakee were always some of his favorite Alaskan pastimes. Working for the family
business, Admiralty Construction, taught him the value of hard work and fueled a lifelong
interest in Engineering.

Matthew's passion for music began at age eight with piano lessons and he later learned to play
clarinet (B flat, E flat, and soprano), saxophone (alto and tenor), flute, and guitar (acoustic,
electric, and bass). During high school he played in Concert Band, Wind Ensemble, and
lettered in Pep Band, as well as being selected for various regional honor bands and winning
the school talent show with a band of his friends his senior year.

As a toddler Matthew was always very talkative and curious, and he later became an excellent
student. While in high school he participated in the National Honor Society, received an Intel
award for his science fair project, volunteered with Habitat For Humanity, and graduated with a
year's worth of college credit through his AP classes. He was awarded the Territorial
Sportsman Scholarship as well as numerous other scholarships when he chose to attend
Montana State University after graduating from JDHS in 2013.

While at MSU Matthew played adult recreational hockey, refereed adult and kids hockey, skied
as much as he could get away with, jet skied, and explored the Rockies on his motorcycle,
making many friends along the way. He participated in the MSU Concert Band, Marching
Band, Jazz Band, and performed at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC with the Wind
Symphony. Matthew was elected senator and then Speaker Pro Tempore of the ASMSU
student government and enjoyed advocating for his fellow students. Through Engineers
Without Borders he traveled to Kenya to help the community of Khwisero install and learn to
maintain composting latrines. Also because of his desire to help others he became a Smarty
Cats tutor, Engineering Department Ambassador, middle school STEM mentor, and joined the
MSU bookstore Board Of Directors. Matthew resurrected the MSU student chapter of the
International Transportation Engineers after it was inactive for years, became the chapter
president, organized trips and participation in nationwide conferences, and led it to becoming a
very active organization.

Because of his hard work, involvement, and altruism, MSU honored Matthew with the Award
For Excellence naming him as one of their top 40 seniors in 2017. The Montana State
Engineers also presented him with the Gold Medal Award for being the outstanding senior in
the MSU College of Engineering that year. Matthew graduated Magna Cum Laude with a BSCE
in Civil Engineering, an Honors Degree, and a Minor in Music. MSU wanted Matthew to
continue contributing to their community, so they offered him a full ride scholarship to pursue
his Master's Degree in Transportation Engineering.

Matthew found great professional growth during three consecutive summers of internships with
RPA Engineers in Helena, MT, WGM Group Engineers in Missoula, MT, and was in the middle
of an internship with FHU Engineers in Denver, Colorado when he was diagnosed with cancer.
Matthew chose to move to Seattle Washington for specialized, aggressive cancer treatment to
give him the most time with family and friends in the NW and Alaska.

A terminal cancer diagnosis didn't slow Matthew down one bit for a long time, and he was
accepted at the University of Washington engineering department to continue his MSU
master's program. He continued playing adult league hockey with the Greater Seattle Hockey
League and the Seattle Pride Hockey Association, and his LetterKenney Irish team won the
Winthrop Puckaroo Hockey Tournament in Nov. 2019. Matthew continued to find great
happiness in all things music and joined the Rainbow City Performing Arts and the Purple
Passion Swing Band with his clarinet and saxophone, and traveled to and attended as many
music concerts and festivals as he could fit into his busy schedule with anyone who would join
him. He even brought his motorcycle and jet ski with him to Seattle so he could experience just
about every mode of transportation possible including the buses and light rail of Seattle, even
jumping from a perfectly good airplane as he skydived with family and friends. Yet the most
incredible thing about the way Matthew continued living his life after diagnosis, was his
connection and kindness with everyone he met or spent time with, as he truly was one of the
most loving, helpful, and compassionate people known. Not surprisingly, he was always a
favorite with medical staff with his sweet nature, remarkable politeness, phenomenal
intelligence, and fabulous sense of humor.

One of the things we will miss most about Matthew is his love and obsession with the
mountains and skiing. He knew the most minute details about every ski area, ski lift, and
gondola in North America, and challenged himself those ten months after diagnosis to ski as
much as possible, logging 31 days at 17 different ski areas, reaching a top speed of 65 miles
an hour! Matthew was flying down double black diamond runs with family just six weeks before
he passed away and was two weeks away from graduating with his Master's degree when he
took his last breath in the arms of his loved ones. MSU recently posthumously awarded
Matthew his Master's degree at their May 2021 commencement ceremony.

One of the greatest contributions and impact Matthew made in his much too short life was as a
big brother to his sister Tamara (Bozeman, Montana) and little brother Brandon. He was a "third
parent" and number one fan to Brandon since the day he was born and watching the love and
connection they shared was awe inspiring. Tamara loved living in the same town as Matthew
when she left for college and they had a fantastic adult sibling relationship filled with advice,
support, and especially laughter. The love, laughter, friendship, and influences Matthew shared
with them will continue to take them far in their lives as they forever miss him.

Matthew is also survived by the love of his life and soulmate, George Jouflas of Wolcott,
Colorado. George and Matthew met at MSU and George is who brought Matthew the biggest
smiles, the brightest future, and the most support with all his pursuits, as well as willingly
moving with him to Seattle to be with him for the biggest challenge of his life. We should all be
so lucky to experience such an amazing love, devotion, and relationship in our life. No family
could ever hope for a more loving partner for their child, and George will forever be a very
loved part of our family.

We would like to thank our friends and the communities of Juneau, Alaska; Seattle,
Washington; Bozeman, Montana; and Denver, Colorado for the love and support they continue
to show our family. We would also like to thank the doctors, nurses, and staff at Swedish
Hospital in Denver, Colorado, Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, University of Washington Medical
Center, and Providence Hospice, Everett, WA for their care, expertise, and exemplary
compassion to not only Matthew, but our entire family. Our extended family has been and
continues to be a source of strength to us and we know they will help us to continue to keep
Matthew's memory alive.

Matthew was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, paternal grandfather, and
cousin Jonathan Balise. Matthew is survived by his partner, his parents, his sister and brother,
his paternal grandmother, as well as numerous beloved aunts, uncles, and cousins, his
devoted dog Kaia, and friends from all over the world, including new friends in his Young Adult
Cancer Support Group. Our family will forever be grateful for the extremely close relationship
Matthew had with his cousins Jamie Balise and Logan DuBois, who willingly dropped
everything to join Matthew on every musical, skiing, outdoor, family, and fun adventure he
could think of in the last year of his most amazing life.

Please join us in remembering our cherished son at a Celebration of Life for Matthew on
Saturday, July 31, 2021 from 1-5pm at Eaglecrest Ski Lodge in Juneau, Alaska. We will also be
streaming and recording the ceremony on our Facebook page, "Campbell Family Updates."

Remembrances for Matthew can be made to the Matthew Peter Campbell Memorial
Scholarship Fund that is set up to honor and continue Matthew's love for life, learning, and
giving back to others at: Matthew Peter Campbell Memorial Scholarship, PO Box 240169,
Douglas, AK 99824, or Venmo @livelikematthewc. Please visit our website
www.livelikematthewc.com to read more about Matthew's life.