Matthew Peeples

Matthew Peeples, 22, recently of Wallington NJ, and born on September 12, 2002, passed away on July 24, 2025. He will be remembered with love and pride by his mother, Jennifer Peeples; grandmother, Patricia Peeples; and his loving aunts, uncles, and cousins. Matthew will be forever treasured and missed by his family, friends, and community.

Matthew was raised in Passaic, NJ for the early part of his childhood. Enthusiastic and driven, Matthew excelled in his studies. At 15, he relocated to Rutherford, his mother's hometown, and attended Rutherford High School. Matthew was consistently recognized as a top-performing student. He was highly engaged in extracurricular activities as a member of the Academic Decathlon, the Math Team, and the Heroes & Cool Kids mentorship program. Matthew constantly challenged himself and impressed those around him with his dedication, teamwork, and kindness.

Matthew was named a QuestBridge Scholar, a prestigious award that provides additional resources and opportunities to high-achieving high school seniors. He matriculated to Vassar College, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology. At Vassar, Matthew stood out in both the Biology and Chemistry departments, serving on the Biology Majors Committee and leading his Chemistry Bowl team to victory. He was elected president of the Vassar chapter of the American Chemical Society, keeping it afloat while still making time to share fun and exciting chemistry demonstrations with the Vassar community. Matthew was also active in research, working as a lab technician under Dr. Bojana Zupan whose research focused on ADHD and autism. There, he was primarily responsible for mouse colony management, working many long nights to keep the mice healthy and the experiments running smoothly. He cared deeply about the well being of the animals he worked with. He continued research after graduation, working at Columbia University's Irving Medical Center in Dr. Shirley ShiDu Yan's laboratory.

One of the many ways Matthew showed his dedication to others was his commitment to the health of his community. He worked as an EMT with the Vassar College Emergency Medical Services and OnTime Medical Transport. Matthew pursued his passion for dentistry by participating in the highly competitive Summer Health Professions Education Program at Howard University and interning at the Kurpis Center for Advanced Dentistry. Matthew recognized the value of having a trusted, caring medical professional, and he strived to become a compassionate dentist.

Beyond his individual successes, Matthew was committed to empowering those around him. He served as a Transitions Foundations Leader at Vassar, supporting first-generation, low-income, and undocumented students as both a mentor and a friend. Matthew was also a cherished teammate on the Men's Varsity Rowing team. He joined as a socially-distanced freshman and left as an accomplished junior, having won a race at the New York State Championships and serving as a crucial substitute at the NIRC collegiate rowing championships. At every Vassar performance, it was easy to tell which of Matthew's friends were involved; he would cheer their name as soon as they came onstage. He never hesitated to attend a campus dance or join a friend for a late night snack and chat.

Matthew approached the world with openness and warmth. You could call on him at any hour of the day, and he would offer help, advice, or simply conversation. Matthew always made space for joy and fun in his life, from sharing strange dentistry facts to teaching a new board game. After adopting his tortoise Tortilla, he showed his love for her through emergency vet visits, toy trucks, and a dedicated Instagram page. Matthew shared all of his passions with friends-he was always around to watch an episode of The Walking Dead, play Pokémon, go to the gym, or share one of his new songs.

Family will receive friends Wednesday July 30th from 7:00 to 9:00pm at the Calhoun-Mania Funeral Home, 19 Lincoln Ave., Rutherford. Private Cremation.

In lieu of flowers donations to The Alfred M. Fiume Foundation http://www.alfredmfiumefoundation.org/