"Our friend and fellow Class of 1988 USDHS Don's Alumni Matthew (Matt) Christian passed away in the early morning hours of October 8, 2015." 

Our friend, father, son, brother, & classmate passed away in the early morning hours of October 8th, leaving behind two remakable children, Taryn a 20 year old daughter and Noah a 17 year old son. The funeral specifics are yet to be determined, but I will keep you updated and post the funeral details here once we have them set.  Taryn is about to give birth any day now to her first child, a granddaughter that Matt was looking forward to welcoming into his family.  

I know that some of you knew, but many probably were not aware of what went on in Matt's life his last several years.  Matt had been on dialysis for over a decade due to renal failure.  He came up as a candidate twice during this period of time for a kidney transplant, but due to other health issues that they could not get under control, Matt unfortunately was passed over & missed having a kidney transplant on both occassions.  Matt also battled Congestive Heart Failure over the last everal years of his life and his CHF hospitalized him several times.  Matt struggled and I tried as best as I could to make sure that the kids weren't affected as much as I possibly could.  

I am asking for financial assistance to help these two young people, who are both still students (Taryn in college and Noah in high school), in order for them to finance funeral expenses for their father, and any other unforseen expenses that may come up.  Any amount donated - as small or as large as you can make will help make the transition for the kids to handle the funeral a smooth one. You can donate annonymously if you don't want to have your name made public or you can donate with your name ... it is entirely up to you.  I implore you to consider how you would hope to have people respond to your loved ones if you had walked in Matt's shoes.  

At the same time, I am also asking that their privacy be respected as well.  This is a sensitive and emotional time for the two of them. They both still need time to process this in their own ways and each needs to sort through this tragedy to find insight on how to manage their pain both individualy and together.

Your compassion, thoughts and prayers for Matt's beautiful children that he left too soon are much appreciated.  I will make sure, as I watch over them, that they are surrounded by every bit of love and support that they need and deserve.  

Please remember everyday to hug your kids, no matter how big they get and tell them how much you love them. Taryn and Noah were Matt's pride and joy and they will always have that love in their hearts and I will make sure they never lose that feeling of love for their father and how much he sacrificed to make sure they were given a Catholic education, despite the sacrifices he often had to make.  

As we all do, Matt wanted the best for his family, and in that family is included his mother and his sister who are also grieving.  I hope we can all honor his memory and give this family the chance to give back to their father, son and brother a bit of what he gave to them and the laughter he gave to all of us.


Matt's children brought him the greatest joy in his life and were the part of his life that he was most passionate about.  Despite his illnesses, the kids were also the part of his life he was most fulfilled by.  Matt considered his two children his greatest accomplishments and the thing he was most proud of.  If you are lucky enough to know Taryn or Noah, or both, you will know exactly what I mean!
 
While Matt and I were never more than platonic friends, Matt allowed me the honor of helping him raise his children, Taryn and Noah with him.  I could not love these two remarkable, now, young adults any more than if I had given birth to them myself.  There is nothing I would not/will not do to make sure that all of their needs are met and I will always be there for each of them in any way that they need me until I take my last breath.  I have been blessed in having them play such a large part of my life and there is not a moment in of any of these past many years that I would trade for anything. 

The death of someone close to us leave us shocked with grief.  Sometimes, especially for young kids loosing a parent, it is difficult to understand how one minute their dad was here and the next he was gone. The truth is that for anyone we really love, they are never truly gone. The body may have run its course, but the soul lives forever. Focusing on the opportunities and experiences ahead rather than dwelling in past memories can help us to move forwards. The kids lives are in flux during this experience, specifically over the next few week and months and at this moment in time, and moving forward, no matter how difficult, will be an important part of that process for them.  So I appreciate and have gratitude for all of you that are contributing to "lifting them up".

As all parents know, loving a child is perhaps one of the greatest joys we will ever experience in life.  There is nothing we would not do to dry their tears and to put a smile on their faces.  So while the kids grieve I will be there to wrap my arms around each of them, to reassure them that they are loved by so many and that their father continues to watch over them, proudly from above.  

I have also had several inquiries about Taryn and where she is registered for her baby, since she is going to be a first time mother.  Please email me through this website or Facebook and I can give you the information that you need.

Please also go to Caring Bridge to share your memories and photographs of Matt so that his family can go to the site to see how many people's lives their father touched.  Even if you shared your stories and/or photos on Facebook or other social media sites, please take a moment to repost them to Caring Bridge as they will allow Taryn and Noah to have a permanent record of stories about their dad than can make them laugh and smile or see how he may have touched someone's life who needed to be uplifted.  http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/matthewchristian

Please spread the word about this fundraising site and the Caring Bridge link listed above as well. In addition, we are celebrating Matt's life in a few days: "Memorial Celebration Of Matthew Christian's Life" on October 16th to celebrate Matt's life at 5:00 pm and will be held at Bully's East Restaurant located at: 2401 Camino Del Rio South, San Diego, California 92108.
  
The more people we get involved, the more stories of Matt that we are able to share, the bigger legacy he leaves behind for his children to have and all the better for his remarkable kids!
 
Basic Information from Go Fund Me: "GOFUNDME.COM: You granted withdrawal access from the Matthew Christian Memorial Fund to: Taryn Christian on October 10, 2015."

If you have any questions of any kind about Matt or the children, please feel free to contact me through this website or on Facebook (Cassandra "Sandi" Heye), either under our class (USDHS Class of 1988) or my personal page (Go Fund Me) does not allow you to post your email on their website, but the email will go directly to my email and I will reposnd to you.  

As soon as funeral details are available, I will make sure they are posted both here and on Caring Bridge.