Matthew J. Enos

Matthew J. Enos, age 47, of Stoughton passed away peacefully on October 7, 2023, after a 16-year battle with Machado Joseph Disease, a rare neurodegenerative illness that left him wheelchair bound with slurred, garbled speech but an intact mind.

Matt was born on November 30, 1975, to Candance (Leonard) and John Enos at Cape Cod Hospital in Hyannis. He grew up in Provincetown, as the son of a son of a sailor, with both his grandfathers having been fishermen in what was once a tight-knit Portuguese fishing village. He spent summers as a kid swimming at St. Mary’s beach, playing at the East End Playground on Bradford Street, diving off Macmillan’s wharf for coins thrown in by tourists, and selling shells with his father’s artwork on them.

When Matt was a young teenager, a good friend had a heart attack while playing basketball, and Matt helped save his life by doing CPR until the ambulance arrived. As a teenager, Matt entered the summertime hustle and bustle of work with a good share of shenanigans thrown in. He worked at the A&P on Marthas Vinyard, where his Uncle Keith was the store manager, at Marine Specialties, and on a whale-watching boat as part of the crew of the Dolphin Fleet. His senior year of high school, Matt was voted most dramatic and most likely to be the first to make a million. As the salutatorian of his class, he gave a moving speech about equality that received a standing ovation. 

After graduating Provincetown High School in 1993, he went on to study Advertising at Syracuse University. While there, he joined TKE fraternity and in 1995 met his wife, Janeen Labbe, “the old-fashioned way” – at a fraternity party. He graduated summa cum laude and was one of 12 students nominated to be the University Scholar.

After graduating college, Matt pursued his dream of writing ads in NYC. He started his career at Frierson and Mee, which kicked off a career and experience akin to Don Draper’s in Mad Men. One assignment sent him and an art director to bars at 10 a.m. with the task of coming up with and naming new drinks for a client’s liquor. Others included naming colognes, picking out models for ads, and attending parties and grand openings with celebrity guests. But mostly, his work involved writing … lots and lots of writing. It was exciting and fun – both the job and the city. While he got a kick out of some of the stories he could tell from these experiences, what he loved about being a copywriter was the opportunity to use his raw sense of humor, creativity, love of words and what he’d often call “useless” trivia knowledge to do what he loved best – make people laugh and think. And while he was good at writing ads, he was also a self-admitted sucker for them and a clever gimmick – something his wife would always tease him about. Over the course of his career, he wrote print ads, billboards, radio and TV spots, as well as countless marketing collateral. He also worked on marketing for various festivals and nonprofits and wrote two screenplays and a blog called The Modern Day Critic.

He had a talent for storytelling, a way with words, a wonderful silliness, and a sharp wit with no risk of ever telling a “Dad” joke. His sense of humor was first shaped by his Mom – a woman whose smile could light up the room and who never lost her sense of humor – and later was influenced by comedians such as George Carlin, Dave Chappelle, Steven Wright, Chris Rock, Louis C.K., and, yes, Bill Cosby, although Matt advised maybe not leaving your sister alone with him.

Matt was easygoing and always had a smile on his face. His personality, intelligence, and wickedly funny commentary made him a constant source of entertainment and joy, as well as a brother and friend to so many. Wherever he went, Matt seemed to make lifelong friends, many of whom sent him messages, videos, and songs, during his last days.

Matt joins his Mom and “Gramma” (Marie Taves), who passed before him. He is survived by his wife, Janeen Labbe, and kids, Camille (Jynx) Enos, 13, and Brandon Enos, 4, as well as his father, John Enos, and brother, Aaron Enos, both of Chicopee.  He leaves behind his Uncle Keith Enos of Oak Bluffs, Marthas Vinyard; his Aunt Shelia Colley and her husband Steve of Eastham; his Aunt Susan Leonard and her partner Rosemary of Orleans; his Aunt Carol LaDuke of Hyannis and her daughter Mia LaDuke of Florida; his Uncle Tony Leonard and his wife Alexis of Vermont; his cousin Steve Colley and his wife Lisa of Brewster; his cousin Lynn Costa and her husband Michael of Eastham; his cousin Doug Colley of Eastham; his parents-in-law Al and Mary Labbe of Stoughton; his sister-in-law Lisa Labbe of Acton, as well as a loving family of more uncles, aunts, and cousins. And last but not least, he leaves behind so many dear friends who helped make his albeit short life a good one.

A celebration of life will be held for Matt in the summer. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the Silva Foundation to help find a cure for this cruel disease. Now in Matt’s spirit, say something shockingly funny to the next person you see. (If that person happens to be your boss or someone equally awkward to joke with, know that Matt is having a good chuckle and thoroughly enjoying the show.)