Vincent “Red” Aubrey Matthews was born August 8th, 1927 to Raymond and Theresa (Bernardo) Mathews. He had a younger brother, Rodney, who predeceased him. His formative years were shaped by the Great Depression and the Second World War. Deserted by his father, his mother struggled as a seamstress by day, silk flower maker by night, and Vincent became the man of the family at a tender age. Still he managed to excel in school, letter in sports each season, and work a host of jobs in between. He made loyal, lifelong Lyndhurst friends whom he treasured. Upon graduating, full of patriotic fervor, he conspired with his mother to doctor his date of birth so he would be of age to enlist. He served during the latter part of the war on the Battleship Iowa (BB61) in the Pacific theatre. He returned, attended Fairleigh Dickinson University, and worked in construction for a time before settling in the floorcovering trade. He would spend his entire career in this field dedicated to two companies, Churchill’s and Einstein Moomjy. He met his one true love, Barbara Roeder, on vacation in Massachusetts in 1955. He courted his Jersey girl for two years before strolling down the aisle of matrimony on September 22nd, 1957. They settled in Rutherford where they raised three children, Laura born in 1959, Linda in 1962, and Nancy in 1965. As the family grew so did the need for space. Liking Rutherford, they stayed and expanded their home with Vincent taking on much of the renovation work himself. He was a master Mr. Fixit with a garage, shed, and basement brimming with evidence to prove it. Vincent never met a nut, bolt, or plumbing fixture that he didn’t like and he kept them around like old friends. His hobbies are epic. He loved music (bursting into song in inappropriate places to the profound mortification of his children), dancing (he and Barbara cut a mean Lindy), and books (cataracts be damned he got a Nook and blew up the print). Vincent wrote beautiful letters with his impeccable left-handed penmanship but spelling was strictly optional. He embraced photography in its various forms and delighted in producing films for the family but editing was not his specialty. Vincent played men’s softball and bowled for many years beyond his school days. He was a lifelong fan of football, baseball, basketball, and golf. His long-suffering love for the Jets led him to spend many a Sunday afternoon offering colorful and enthusiastic advice to Gang Green on the unresponsive TV screen. He was voraciously curious, always willing to leap into new tools and gadgets with both hands, fearless and engaged. He was a member of the Commodore computer club based on the early 1980’s “Ford Model T” of home computers dominating the middle market against such competitors as Apple and IBM at a time when floppy disks were actually floppy. He pursued his fascination with technology well into his eighties purchasing a Google Nexus shortly before he grew too ill to use it. He never gave in to age and he never gave up the fight. Vincent was a man of deep faith. Born Roman Catholic, after marriage he joined Barbara in her Lutheran affiliation, and later they both found a welcoming home in the Episcopalian Church. He was always willing to offer himself to the service of God and church through the use of his helping hands, his open mind, and his loving heart. Lastly Vincent was fiercely devoted to his family. He often sacrificed his own dreams to provide a secure home and sound future for his children. He loved the daughter and sons he acquired through his children like they were his own. He doted on and adored his grandchildren; they were truly the twinkle in his eye and the bounce in his step. And he cherished his beloved Barbara more than, he would admit, his words or actions could ever possibly or adequately express. We will always remember and miss you, Vincent, Dad, Grandpa.