Mathew Joseph Gawiak

Mathew Joseph Gawiak, 36, of Denver, Colorado, passed away unexpectedly on August 15, 2025 in Buena Vista, Colorado, due to natural causes related to an undetected hereditary condition. Matt leaves behind his beloved wife Allison Zangle, his devoted parents Linda and Thomas Gawiak, his cherished siblings Stephanie La Jara (Gawiak) and Christopher Gawiak, and four young nieces and nephews who he loved to spend time with.

Born on October 30, 1988 in Queens, New York, Mathew was the firstborn child of Linda and Thomas Gawiak. From the very beginning, he was a source of love, strength, and joy in their lives. As the older brother to Christopher and Stephanie, he took on the role of protector and guide, always looking out for them with a natural sense of responsibility.

As an adolescent, Matt faced extraordinary challenges, having bravely fought and survived aplastic anemia - a rare blood disorder that necessitated extensive medical interventions including chemotherapy, radiation, and a bone marrow transplant. During all of this, Matt maintained an unwavering sense of positivity, rarely succumbing to bitterness or discouragement, and instead focusing his energy on overcoming his illness. This profound experience molded him into a remarkably resilient, determined, and optimistic individual, always able to find the silver lining, always making sure that those around him were ok, even through his toughest times.

Matt was a dedicated, lifelong learner. He graduated with honors from Patchogue-Medford High School on Long Island, NY. His passion for knowledge led him to Stony Brook University, where he double majored in History and Music, graduating in 2011. He later attended Colorado University in Denver, earning a Master's degree in Applied Geography and Geospatial Science in 2022. Matt's graduate studies took him all the way to a rural part of the Patagonia ice sheets, where he applied drone technology to study glacier lake outburst floods. His master's thesis focused on the critical topic of socio-economic disparities of food deserts in Denver, CO. After graduating Matt found fulfilling work at Prologis where he applied his specialized skills creating analytical maps.

In 2015, Mathew Gawiak met the love of his life Allison Zangle while working at the Fifth Season restaurant in Port Jefferson, New York. Shortly after their relationship started on December 15th, 2015, they moved to the Congress Park neighborhood in Denver. Here they began laying the foundation for their future and building a vibrant community of friends who became their Colorado family.

Mathew and Allison's connection blossomed, leading to their marriage on July 15, 2023, at City Park Pavillion in Denver. Matt and Ali loved each other deeply. Their decade-long relationship was a beautiful testament to trust, adventure, balance, and mutual growth. They were each other's proudest supporters, and they continually challenged and uplifted each other to evolve into their best selves.

Matt and Allison shared a love for the outdoors. They spent countless weekends skiing, hiking, and backpacking in the beautiful Rocky Mountains. Their passion for travel took them to diverse corners of the Americas, including recent trips to Peru, Belize, and Mexico. They were scheming their next destination with hopes of backpacking through Europe, embarking on safaris in Africa, relaxing on beaches in the Mediterranean, and exploring the rainforests of Costa Rica within their lifetime.

A truly musical soul, Matt played classical and jazz trumpet in his younger years and continued to enjoy playing his electric and acoustic guitars on a daily basis. He was an avid record collector with a vast knowledge of music, always keen to discover new artists and recommend them to those around him. One of his greatest joys was attending live music shows, diligently tracking his favorite bands' touring schedules and often traveling great distances to see them perform.

Mathew Joseph Gawiak will forever be remembered for his kind, genuine, and thoughtful character. He possessed a unique ability to make everyone around him feel at ease, listening deeply and patiently in every conversation. His overall good nature and unwavering optimism touched the lives of all who knew him.

In lieu of flowers, we kindly ask that you consider donating to the GoFundMe created by his loving wife, Allison Zangle. These funds will help ease the burden of medical and funeral expenses during this incredibly difficult time.

Beyond that, Allison plans to honor his memory by supporting the Aplastic Anemia and Myelodysplastic Disease International Foundation. Her mission is to work closely with the organization to raise awareness and improve comprehensive care for adults who faced this illness as children - so that no family has to endure a devastating loss like this.