Matthew Donald Paul Herzberg

Matthew Donald Paul Herzberg died on January 20th, 2023, at the age of 38, at his family's home in Baltimore. He died as he lived-sustained by the love of family and friends, especially his wife, Julie Stecker, and surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses whose lives have been intertwined with his. Each season of his life, each community of belonging, was notable for the impact that he made on those around him and for the depth of relationships he formed with others.

Born in Albany, Georgia on April 1st, 1984, this Lutheran pastor's kid proudly called Fair Lawn, New Jersey his home. His congregations and his high school theatre program were particularly important communities of formation and belonging. After graduating from New York University in 2006 with a degree in Teaching and Learning, he spent two years on the Mississippi Gulf Coast helping to coordinate volunteers and contribute to the rebuilding process following Hurricane Katrina (with Lutheran Disaster Response and Habitat for Humanity). He moved to Baltimore in September 2009 to work for Habitat for Humanity of the Chesapeake. Around that same time he became one of the founding members and key leaders of Breath of God Lutheran Church in the Highlandtown neighborhood. He did much to shape the mission and character of the congregation. While in Baltimore he also worked for Lutheran Immigration & Refugee Service and Dinosaur BBQ, before helping open the Urban Axes community in Baltimore as a coach, thrower, and League Master, eventually becoming the League Community Manager + Social Media Coordinator for all Urban Axes locations across the country. In 2021, he earned a Master of Arts in Emerging Media from Loyola University Maryland.

Matt and Julie were married in an absolutely perfect wedding on November 11th, 2017 at St. Mark's Lutheran Church in Baltimore City. Their twin sons, Thomas and Harrison, were born prematurely on December 25th, 2021. Their healthy growth and development over their first year of life gave joy to Matt, Julie, and all those who love them.

Matt's death from cancer, which was already aggressive and advanced when diagnosed last spring, is devastating for all of us. His mortality loomed over these past months like a persistent and intense heartache. God's great gift of love in Jesus Christ promised Matt, and promises us, that we will share eternal life with Matt in God's presence. We know those promises to be true, as did Matt. And still our hearts break as we share stories, relive memories, and remind one another what it has meant to love and be loved by Matt. It is a grief not only rooted in what has been, but for the life and adventures and work and joy we would have shared with him in the many years which we expected to have with him-which he and Julie expected to have together with their boys. That Thomas and Harrison will not have a chance to know their father the way we have been able to know him is heart-breaking.

And, it is also a call to action. Julie invites us to share photos, videos (of Matt, or of people telling stories about Matt), writings, and any other remembrances of Matt with her, using https://mattmoments.wetransfer.com/. We are particularly invited to be thoughtful about what we can share which will help Harrison and Thomas better come to know their father and the nature of his love for them.

Matt is survived by his spouse, Julie Stecker, and his sons, Harrison and Thomas; his sister, Jennn, married to Steve Partlow, and their children, Levi, Asa, and Clara; his parents, Terry & Susie Herzberg; his parents-in-law, Bonnie & Rick Stecker; his sister-in-law, Claire Stecker; his aunt and godmother, Cathy Koncilia, her children Holly & Joe (spouse Jessica), and their children Nicarra, Morgan, and Bailey; his uncle, David Herzberg; his uncle, Steven Herzberg (spouse Tonia), and children Diana (spouse Jonny) and Jessie; his aunt and godmother Kathy Herzberg; grandfather George Mack (spouse Julie); and many extended family members. Matt joins the saints in light, including his grandparents Harold (Don) Nagel and Ethel Nagel Mack; his grandparents Paul and Gracka Herzberg; his uncle Donald Nagel; his uncle and godfather Mike Koncilia.

Funeral services will take place at the Church of the Holy Apostles & St. Stephen, 901 Courtney Road, Arbutus, Maryland 21227, at 10:30am on Friday, January 27th. Children are welcome, and childcare will be available if needed. A reception will follow. Donations may be made, in lieu of flowers, to either "Breath of God Lutheran Church" or the "Clinton Street Community Center." Both are located at 141 S. Clinton Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21224. Their respective websites are BreathOfGodLC.org and clintonstreetcommunity.org.