Matthew Lincoln Clerico

Matthew Lincoln Clerico, 52, of Troy, NY passed suddenly at his home on Saturday, August 30, 2025. He is predeceased by his parents, Michael and Debbie Clerico, and his daughter, Olivia Rose Clerico. He is survived by his wife, Bethany Clerico, and children Michael and Isabella Clerico. He was a beloved son-in-law to Thomas and Janet Aery and brother-in-law to Kaitlyn Aery and Theresa Quinones.

Matt was born in Danbury, Connecticut. His family moved to Raymertown, NY, when Matt was in middle school. After high school, he attended the University at Albany, SUNY, where he studied art. After college, he became an AmeriCorps member, which sparked his lifelong passion for national service. Early in his career, he served as the director of the City of Albany's YouthBuild Program. In 2012, he joined YouthBuild Global as a Portfolio Manager on the AmeriCorps team. For the last four years, Matt was the Associate Director of New Site Development and he mentored new programs across the country. He loved his work and was immensely proud to be a member of the YouthBuild community.

All who knew Matt could see how much he loved his wife, Bethany Clerico, and their two children, Michael and Isabella. Matt was a devoted husband. Every day of their twenty-three year marriage, he made sure he told his wife how much he loved her and he showed his love by being her biggest cheerleader, making her laugh through constant teasing, and offering his steady hand for her to hold. As a proud papa, Matt never missed a track meet, theatre production, and award ceremony. He stood in the front row with his camera, ready to capture every special moment, and was the loudest voice in the cheering section. He was eagerly awaiting their upcoming graduations: Isabella from high school and Michael from college. He was especially excited that his children had inherited his artistic talent, and together they spent hours creating stained glass, paintings, and drawings. Matt made sure they knew of his unconditional love, telling them every day how much he adored them, giving hugs daily, and offering encouragement-especially when life was difficult. He took his role as their papa seriously, staying up late each night to welcome them home, imparting life lessons, and teaching them how to laugh, joke, and show love in every moment.

Matt didn't just love his immediate family, but he also loved his lifelong friends-his other family-with whom he shared a unique bond that only deepened with time. For over forty years, he and his friends journeyed through life together. When they were young adults, they lived together, traveled, and attended music festivals. As they got older, they raised their families together and always lived within a few miles of each other. They gathered for weekly meals, game nights, and holidays, all of which Matt carefully documented by taking group photos and, of course, selfies. Every get-together was filled with merciless teasing, loud retellings of their favorite stories, and giant hugs.

Matt's other life-long love was YouthBuild. He was affectionately known as "Mr. YouthBuild" because of his unmatched enthusiasm for the mission. He was a true believer in the power of service to transform young lives, and he gave 150% of himself – his talent, his knowledge, and his heart – to serve his programs. His warm and outgoing personality made him a much-loved colleague and his endless energy meant he was always there. He could be found at service events, rolling up his sleeves and pitching in, or at conferences, where he brought a little razzle dazzle through his shiny suits and by organizing end-of-day adventures. Matt could always be found sitting front and center in group photos and he made sure to take regular selfies with his beloved A-Team. He left an indelible mark on the organization and will be greatly missed by his YouthBuild family.

Beyond his professional life, Matt was an incredibly gifted artist. He excelled in drawing, painting, and stained glass-a craft he learned from his parents. He loved to create personalized stained glass works for his friends and family, and they treasure his remarkable creations. He was also an adventurer at heart. His work as well as his wanderlust took him around the country and he turned each trip into a chance to explore. He was passionate about finding the unique, the weird, and the exceptional in each space. He especially loved visiting tiki bars and collecting trinkets for his home bar. Through research and by wandering on foot through new places, he was able to discover hundreds of little-known or out-of-the-way places.

Matt had a larger-than-life personality and he prided himself on being unique. He brought energy, wit, and sass to everything he did. He loved to express himself through his unique jewelry and he was known for wearing elaborately embellished and brightly colored shirts and suits that made him stand out in a crowd. He had a beautiful singing voice, and he loved to drag his friends and colleagues to karaoke bars. Matt's ability to tell stories and craft jokes was unparalleled. His jokes could bring everyone to tears with laughter, his pranks were legendary, and he was always ready with the perfect witty comeback.

Matt's presence was unforgettable–one of pure love. His greatest desire was to be the best husband, father, and friend he could be. He spent every ounce of his energy on nurturing his loved ones. He never wavered. He dedicated his life to his people, who all felt treasured, supported, and loved by him. Though Matt's passing was untimely, his impact will resonate forever. He lived a life full of joy, creativity, and service. His family and friends will cherish his memory, his sense of humor, and the immense love he gave to everyone he met.

A private memorial will be held by the family. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a GoFundMe page set up to assist the family during this difficult time. Please visit https://www.gofundme.com/f/matt-clerico to donate.