Gordon Matthew Howard—known to most as Matthew—died peacefully on July 3, 2025, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, at the age of 74.
Born in St. Louis, Missouri, on November 6, 1950, Matthew was the middle son of Margaret "Peggy" and Gordon Howard. In his early twenties, he met the mother of his children and former wife Nina in Saint Louis. A family emergency en route to California changed the course of their lives, landing them in Boulder County, Colorado, where Matthew and his wife put down roots and raised three children: Naomi, Noah, and Shoshanna. He eventually relocated to New Mexico to live out his final years surrounded by the love and care of his good friends.
Matthew was known for his quick wit, irreverent humor, and a seemingly endless supply of terrible puns. He could make anyone laugh, whether it was the waitstaff at his favorite diner or the nurses at the hospital. If you were lucky, you heard him point at a man in a field and say, "That man is outstanding in his field." He was a wiseass in the best way, and wore the title with pride.
But beneath the jokes was a warrior spirit. Matthew endured extraordinary challenges in his life, including a near-death experience that rewrote his path and reopened his heart. He lived more than nine lives, always with resilience, grace, and a glint of mischief in his eye.
He is survived by his children Naomi Tepper (Tre' Grisby), Noah Howard (Catherine), and Shoshanna Howard; grandchildren Victoria, Madeline, Samuel, and Eden; great-granddaughter Eliana; former wife Nina; nieces Meredith and Eleanor; nephew Mark; and his dear friend Cynthia. He was preceded in death by his parents, Peggy and Gordon, and brothers, Mark and Christopher.
A private memorial will be held in San Diego, California on August 2, 2025. Hawaiian t-shirts encouraged (his preferred attire for all occasions). In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Boulder County Homeless shelter, All Roads BoCo @
https://allroadsboco.org/, a cause close to his heart.
His favorite saying was, "This too shall pass." And now, so has he, leaving behind laughter, stories, and love that will ripple forward through the generations.
Arrangements are being handled by the caring professionals at the Noblin Funeral Service Belen Chapel, where an online guest register is available at www.noblin.com
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