Matthew Owens Badger

PORTLAND - Matthew Owens Badger, 51, of Brooklyn, New York, passed away peacefully after a short illness, on February 9, 2017, surrounded by family and friends.

Matthew was born in Lincoln, Mass., and was the youngest son of Sherwin and Mary Elizabeth Badger. After his father's death, the family moved to London, England, for Matthew's formative years. When he returned to the United States, he found his true calling studying film at the New School in New York City.

He started his own film company, Nocturnal Films, making fashion films for Donna Karan and Calvin Klein. Matthew's unique creativity was soon recognized and he was asked to join Epoch Films.

Matthew was a highly successful director, whose work was regarded as original, intellectual, and strong in graph composition, design, and music sensibility. During his professional career, Matthew created striking and stylish spots for clients such as Kit Kat, Volvo, JC Penny, Kleenex, Target, Payless, Kohl's, and others.

Matthew had three daughters, Lily, Sarah, and Grace, whom he adored and raised to be adventurous, creative, and full of life. He spent his summers on Shelter Island and his joy was taking his intrepid daughters out fishing on Long Island Sound. All three girls were tragically killed in a fire at their mother's home, early Christmas morning 2011; Lily was 9, and twins Sarah and Grace were 7 years old.

After his daughters' deaths, Matthew founded the LilySarahGrace Fund as a way to honor their lives. The fund supports the arts in public elementary schools across America through arts-infused inquiry-based learning. AIIBL empowers all students to achieve through intellectually challenging, inquiry-based, integrated experiences which are fun, exciting, relevant, and engaging. Matthew wanted to make sure all children, regardless of their learning style or socio-economic status, have an equal opportunity to access education and to thrive in school.

A memorial service will take place at Grace Church in New York City March 3, 2017. Local arrangements are by Conroy-Tully Walker Funeral Home, 172 State St., Portland. To view Matthew's memorial page or share online condolences, please visit:www.ConroyTullyWalker.com.


Donations may be made in Matthew Badgers name to
The LilySarahGrace Fund
180 Varick Street, Suite 1204
New York, NY 10014