Gerald N. Matross

Jerry Matross, Ph.D lived nearly all of his adult life in the Boston area. He died of a sudden illness on March 1, 2026. His wife, Barbara Nicholson, Ph.D preceded him in death by four months.

Jerry was a philosophy professor and teacher at Merrimack College north of Boston. He absolutely loved learning, thinking, and exploring ideas, looking at life’s biggest issues through the lens of different ways of thinking and various schools of thought. He was always intellectually curious and he helped his students (who loved him dearly) learn more about how to think through and consider major issues in life, especially decisions involving ethics. At the same time he often expressed a wonderful, dry sense of humor by jokingly expressing exaggerated points of view and making fun of himself.

Jerry was deeply loving and a true friend to many. He volunteered to help marginalized people. He also let other individuals touch his heart and he responded by listening and giving what he could to them in ways that sensitively matched their needs.

Jerry is survived by his nephews, J.B. and Joshua Matross, his grand niece, Hannah Matross, his niece and nephews, Valerie Osborne, Jon and Ken Rogers and his adoptive daughter, Masha Ioveva. Also surviving Jerry are his godson, Alex Nhek, very close friends, Diane Kay and Ashley Nhek, his sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Mary Ann and Claude Rogers, and very close friends Nancy and David Henry.

We are sad and we miss you Jerry. But you remain with us in our hearts.