MATTHEW JAMES BRIGGS

The story of Matthew James Briggs begins on June 16, 1989 when he was born in Springfield, Massachusetts, however, it does not end with his death on August 25, 2021 at home in Seattle, Washington at the age of 32. It only remains unwritten. But no matter what parts you read - or get written into - the theme of Matt's story is a constant: Love and connection.

Some know Matt as a teacher. While he loved reading and talking about literature, he loved his connections with students even more. He loved sharing with them and learning from them from the moment he started his student teaching at Chestnut Middle School in Springfield, MA, and he continued to advocate for and delight in his students at Commonwealth Academy in Alexandria, VA, and Archbishop Carroll High School in Washington, DC, as a Peace Corps education volunteer in Masaka, Uganda, and at Islander Middle School in Mercer Island, WA.

Some know Matt as a friend. He grew up in East Longmeadow, MA, and is a graduate of East Longmeadow High School and the University of Massachusetts Amherst, both as an undergraduate in English Literature and as a graduate student in the School of Education with a concentration in Urban Education. He studied abroad at Trinity College Dublin, and loved playing and coaching football, basketball, and lacrosse. Matt made many deep and meaningful friendships along the way, with people he knew from childhood as well as those he met through school, sports, work, church, writing, and travel. And he never missed an opportunity to mix his friends together when he could, because to be Matt's friend means sharing your unique greatness with his world.

Some know Matt as a companion in cancer. On November 21, 2019, Matt was diagnosed with a rare, incurable, and aggressive cancer, known as desmoplastic small round cell tumor (DSRCT). He forged quick and deep connections with those in his young adult cancer support group at the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, and others on their cancer journey. Matt embraced his cancer as yet another opportunity for connection, with radical acceptance, courage, love, strength, and humbleness that allowed him to draw people closer to him. And his school family at Islander Middle School responded in kind, collectively donating almost two years of personal sick leave to keep Matt fully employed after his diagnosis.

If you know Matt, you also know the love of his life: His wife and soulmate, Victoria. Both growing up in Western Massachusetts, Matt and Victoria met in college, and their connection never wavered. They were married on July 11, 2015 in Sunapee, NH, and joined the Peace Corps together shortly after their wedding. As Matt's greatest champion, best friend, and unfailing caregiver, Victoria helped Matt to live his life to the fullest at all times, fulfilling her promise to be a bridge, not a barrier, throughout his treatment.

A prolific and talented writer, poet, and MC. A playful and loving uncle. A beloved brother. A cherished son. Matt is many things to his friends and family, and each person who knows Matt has found and will continue to find inspiration in his beautiful life and spirit.

Matt is survived by his wife, Victoria Szydlowski; his mother Lyn Briggs of Springfield, MA; his father Paul Briggs and wife Barbara of Pennington, NJ; his brother, Joshua Briggs and wife Carol Fahey of Glendale, CA; his sister Meghan Lynch and husband Martin of East Longmeadow, MA; and his brother Caleb Briggs of St. John's College in Annapolis, MD. He is also survived by his nephews, Wilder and Clive Briggs, and Henry Lynch, and by countless heartbroken friends who will miss his humor, his songs, his openness, his deep faith, and his support for social justice causes. Matt's most fervent wish for his friends and family - and all who touched his life, or whose lives he touched in some way - is that you know he loves you, and he is with you.

A celebration of Matt's life will be held at St. Mark's Cathedral in Seattle, Washington on Sunday, September 19, 2021 at 2pm PST. It will also be accessible via live stream at https://saintmarks.org/livestream.

Matt's wishes were to have memorial funds designated to serve marginalized youth and lovingly challenge privileged youth to consider how they may more equitably share their power. To support this intention, donations can be made to the Matthew Briggs Scholarship Fund c/o Records and Gift Processing, Memorial Hall, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 134 Hicks Way, Amherst, MA 01003 (payable to University of Massachusetts Amherst) or online at https://www.umass.edu/education/giving (Select "other" and designate the Matthew Briggs Scholarship Fund). This endowed scholarship will be designated to a student in the Social Justice program at the School of Education at UMass. Donations can also be made to Matt's spiritual home that nurtured his passion for justice and liberation, St. Mark's Cathedral, 1245 10th Ave. E, Seattle, WA 98102 or https://saintmarks.org/give (in memory of Matthew Briggs).