Dr. Matthew Thomas McGurn

McGurn, Dr. Matthew Thomas
BUFFALO - Dr. Matthew Thomas McGurn passed peacefully on June 28, in Buffalo. Matt was born on August 26, 1985, in Albany, New York. He was the son of the late Debra Ann McGurn and Thomas McGurn.
Matt was a graduate of the Bethlehem High School Lab School Program. He benefitted greatly from the dedicated professionals of the Lab School. He attended the State University of New York at Buffalo, where he earned a Doctorate in Mechanical Engineering. Following graduation, he worked at R.E.I. and ANSYS. In 2020, he returned to Buffalo to work for the University.
Matt was an intelligent, caring young man. He loved his MACS! When Matt was in fifth grade, we purchased a Mac Tower from Montgomery Ward (remember Montgomery Ward?). Within a week of buying the tower, I entered the dining room to find Matt sitting at the table with the entire contents of the tower spread before him. Keeping in mind that we hadn't made a payment on the computer yet, I (gently) asked what he was doing. He seemed puzzled. Wasn't it obvious? Adding RAM, of course (remember RAM?). Within an hour, he had the tower back together and functioning. From that moment on, Matt became the go-to-guy for all things related to technology.
Where this would all lead is best related by Dr. Paul Des Jardin, Matt's advisor, mentor, and friend, "Dr. Matthew McGurn received his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of New York at Buffalo in 2013. He focused his career upon the development of complex simulation frameworks and required software interfaces to solve the most challenging engineering problems of today. Matt was a highly-regarded software architect, well versed in the mathematics, physics, and software programming methods. He made significant contributions in the fields of super computing and computational mechanics."
A vegetarian, Matt was concerned with the ethical treatment of animals. While still in college, he was part of a group of dog lovers who helped turn Ellicott Park into a dog haven (see Friends of Ellicott). Matt also served as an administrator for CAWS, an animal rescue organization in Salt Lake City.
It was while working at CAWS that Matt met the love of his life, MinhTu Nguyen. Matt and MinhTu are the proud parents of Thomas Minh and Norah An McGurn. Matt was a loving husband and father who would make any sacrifice to benefit his family.
Matt was predeceased by his mother, Debra Ann McGurn; his grandfather, Edmund Blanchet; his grandparents, Henry and Helen McGurn; and his best canine friend, Tucker. Matt leaves to mourn him his father, Thomas McGurn; his grandmother, Marion Blanchet; his sister, Meaghan Kolesnikov (Richard); his godparents; and uncle and aunt, Robert and Elaine Blanchet; his uncles, Michael Blanchet (Tere'), Joseph Blanchet (Diane), William McGurn (Linda); aunts Susan Lasch (Michael), and Linda Kobylinsky; as well as his uncle and aunt, Lester and Pat Mackey. Matt was very close to his cousins, Michael Lasch (Sandra), Michelle Majkowski (Joseph), Conner Lasch (Caroline), Lauren Tideman (Alex), Travis Brooks (Emily), Stephanie Crosby (Paul), Andrea Blanchet, Joseph Blanchet, Ben Blanchet, Kelsey McGurn, James Blanchet, Danielle and Michelle Beaver, Edmund Blanchet. Matt will also be missed by his rescues, Cody and Mya.
Matt's family would also like to express their gratitude to Dr. Michael Krabak and the staff at Roswell Park for the excellent care they gave Matt.
Per Matt's wishes, the services will be private. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in Matt's name to CAWS (caws.org) or Roswell Park (roswellpark.org). Matt wanted all of his family and friends to get together to hoist one of his favorite dark ales in his memory. Please check at minhtu.ton@gmail.com for updates
We'd like to leave you with a quote from Daniel Patrick Moynihan that expresses how we feel. You need not be Irish to feel the loss.
"I don't think there's any point in being Irish if you don't know that the world is going to break your heart eventually. I guess we thought we had a little more time"