Matthew Maloney

1979 - 2018

Matthew C. Maloney, Age 38

Ashfield - This world lost a beautiful soul. After a six month battle with cancer, Matthew Maloney left this world on January 22, 2018. As he faced his illness with incredible courage and grace, he amazed his family and friends every moment of everyday.

Matt leaves his loving parents, his mother Carol Maloney Nelson and his father David J. Nelson of Ashfield with whom he shared a very special bond. They were family as well as very close friends. Three hearts, always three.

Matt was born on August 8, 1979 in Worcester. He grew up in Westborough, graduating from Westborough High School in 1998. An avid trombonist and vocalist, Matt was a member of the concert band, jazz ensemble, orchestra and chorus. Many years, he was accepted into Central Massachusetts Districts and All States. Matt played in numerous local bands and was a founding member of the band "Bath Sheba".

He attended Berklee College of Music in Boston, accepted as both a trombonist and a vocalist, before transferring to the University of Massachusetts Amherst. In 2002, Matt earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree, Cum Laude, with a double major in Political Science and Economics.

He lived in Boston for many years, working in sales for various start-ups. Matt moved to Western Mass in 2010 to join his mother in the field of public accounting. He studied the requirements to sit for the Uniform CPA Exam through the continuing education division of Colorado State University, and earned his designation as a Certified Public Accountant in February 2017. Matt and Carol operated Maloney Nelson PC, CPA's in Amherst for the past 8 years.

Matt shared his love of music with his father, one of his first mentors. He continued to be active in the local music scene, including being a founding member of the band "Fat Bradley" in Northampton.

Matt enjoyed the outdoors and was an avid hiker. He loved the quiet woods of Ashfield where he found great solace in his meditation practice. Matt cherished his relationships with his family and friends. As an only child, he often commented that his numerous cousins and friends more than made up for not having siblings at home.

In addition to his parents, Matt leaves his maternal grandfather Donald Maloney Sr of Shrewsbury, aunts and uncles Donald Jr and Mary (Spellman) Maloney of Holden who were also his Godparents, Marie Maloney Johnson and Peter Johnson of Bath ME, Robert Maloney and Joyce Chestnut-Maloney of Sterling, Michael and Judith (Paterak) Maloney of Hillsborough NC, Susan Maloney of Shrewsbury, Joan Maloney-Kelleher and Daniel Kelleher Sr of Jefferson, Patricia Maloney Nelson and William Nelson of Paxton, John Maloney of Maynard and twenty cousins. He was predeceased by his maternal grandmother June (Johnson) Maloney, his aunt Nancy Maloney-Thomas and one cousin.

He also leaves his paternal grandmother Katharine Nelson of Shrewsbury, aunts and uncles Suzanne (Breen) Nelson of Baltimore MD, Katharine (Nelson) and Arthur Furst of Marlborough, Suzanne (Nelson) and Andrew Bell of Whately, Patricia Nelson and William Ellis of Palm Coast FL, Paul and Rosario (Espinoza) Nelson of Belchertown, William Nelson and Patricia Maloney Nelson of Paxton, Stephen Nelson of Worcester, Elizabeth (Nelson) and Michael Ward of Las Vegas NV and eight cousins. He was predeceased by his paternal grandfather Donald R "Bob" Nelson, his uncle Donald R Nelson and one cousin.

Matt also leaves an infinite number of close friends (many of whom have been together since kindergarten and grade school), along with numerous friends from his years at UMass and in Boston. To say he will be greatly missed is an understatement.

A celebration of Matt's life will be held in the Spring.

In keeping with Matt's strong conviction of equality and justice for all, the family asks that you remember him as you encounter those less fortunate.