Ohio Girl Gone South

127

Eulogia lui Kevin

Cand a rasarit 4 ianuarie 1980, era frig si ninsoare. John si Connie nu aveau habar ca vor deveni parinti mai tarziu in acea zi, deoarece noul lor fiu nu trebuia sa soseasca pana la sfarsitul lunii februarie! John lucra la un loc de munca cu Mike Post, cand Connie a inceput sa se confrunte cu unele simptome ingrijoratoare. A sunat-o pe prietena ei Sharon Post la serviciu, care si-a lasat creionul pe birou si s-a repezit chiar peste. Sharon a ajutat-o pe mama cu sosetele ei – la aproape noua luni era insarcinata, dupa care a dus-o la spital. Kevin a venit pe lume la 10:30 in noaptea aceea prin cezariana.

Kevin a ajuns sa-si petreaca primii 3 ani din viata ca fiind primul si singurul nepotel din familia noastra; el a fost incantat, pretuit si iubit inca de la inceput. Ambele seturi de bunici s-au oferit sa se fereasca de copil tot timpul si sa petreaca momente suplimentare cu copilul lor pretios. Bunicul Paul (tatal lui Ioan) i-a facut jucarii frumoase din lemn: un cal de balansare si un set superb de tren. Apoi verii si sora lui s-au alaturat clanului, oferindu-i lui Kevin cativa colegi de joc si prieteni.

Familia Mathias s-a mutat in casa lor de pe Lazelle Road in 1984, care a inceput un nou capitol in viata lui Kevin. Avea baieti vecini cu care sa se joace, padure cu care sa se plimbe, un iaz in care sa pescuiasca si multe aventuri care asteptau. Aceasta miscare ne-a pus in sistemul scolii Olentangy, care a oferit atat lui Kevin cat si eu unii dintre cei mai buni prieteni pe care oricine i-ar putea cere. El era cam cameleon cand venea vorba de prietenii sai si parea sa poata incadra aproape oriunde cu spiritul si simtul umorului sau rapid: De la trupa de mars pana la echipa de fotbal, club de drama pentru a arata corul la baiat cerceta grupurile sale de „inadaptari” cu care a petrecut cea mai mare parte a timpului. A fost foarte activ in coruri, atat la scoala, cat si la biserica. Muzica a fost intotdeauna importanta pentru Kevin, fie ca il canta in trupa sau il asculta la volume asurzitoare in masina lui – multi dintre voi trebuie sa va amintiti ca batranul Chevy Malibu pe care l-a condus in liceu. Imi amintesc ca i-a aruncat lui Korn si Nirvana in dormitorul sau, iar mai tarziu a trecut la niste Beck, ICP si alte alte batai tehnice. Daca il cunosti pe Kevin, ai auzit muzica tare.

A absolvit Liceul Olentangy in 1998 si cand a continuat sa exploreze viata colegiului din Chicago timp de un an la Universitatea DePaul. S-a intors la Columbus si si-a luat cativa ani liber pentru a lucra inainte de a-si termina diploma de finante la Ohio Dominican University in 2008. Am fost cu totii atat de mandri de el. A lucrat cu sarguinta in timpul scolii si dupa, mai intai la hotelul Doubletree, apoi la compania Red Roof Inn, apoi la NiSource. A excelat in fiecare rol si si-a facut multi prieteni pe parcurs.

Cand ma gandesc la Kevin, primele trei adjective imi vin in minte: inteligent, amuzant si loial. El a fost intotdeauna unul dintre cei mai destepti oameni pe care ii cunosc. Nu numai cartea inteligenta – care a fost cu siguranta (ai vazut scorurile lui SAT ?! Au fost ridicol de mari), dar a fost de asemenea inteligent in modurile lumii. A fost repede cu reveniri si mici sfaturi. In plus, el a fost tipul pentru familie pentru orice legatura cu tehnologia. Nu pot functiona televizorul? Suna-l pe Kevin. Computerul actioneaza amuzant? Suna-l pe Kevin. Nu va puteti aminti parola Wi-Fi? Nu-ti face griji, Kevin o va sti.

Matusa Bobbie a impartasit o poveste care demonstreaza istetimea sa de la o varsta foarte frageda. Avea vreo 3 ani si bunica noastra Nancy il facea de babysitting. Avea diverse activitati care sa-l tina ocupat in bucataria ei. Una dintre ele taia diferite forme din hartie cu niste foarfece la masa. L-a pus in pozitie si apoi s-a intors pentru a face vasele. Kevin isi taia formele si in timp ce mergea in oras a taiat perdelele din bucatarie. In loc sa planga sau sa incerce sa-si lase drumul din ea, a luat niste banda de scotch si a asezat perdelele la loc. Asadar, cand bunica s-a intors si a vazut perdelele, Kevin a spus pur si simplu „Uite bunica, am rezolvat-o!”

If you knew Kevin well, you probably saw flashes of his eccentricity and sense of humor from time to time. His laugh was loud and when Kevin was expressive he lit up a room. Some people would describe his laugh as “snorty” which is totally true. If you really got him going, he would laugh loud and end it with a hearty snort. (demonstrate).

Kevin’s friend Chris has an infinite number of stories, but this one highlights Kevin’s humor. Most of his Chris’ memories are from their former workplace at the Doubletree hotel. They worked the night shift together for a few years and Kevin was so good at his job and with numbers and auditing especially, that he never had to worry about being replaced. And, as Chris said, “he took full advantage of that.” One evening at 2am, a customer called the desk. Chris picked up to answer, but Kevin grabbed the phone from him and screamed into the receiver, “Do you have any idea what time it is?!” Then he handed the phone back to Chris, who was in complete shock and had to immediately hang up the phone before busting out laughing. Chris said that the poor guy probably thought he had the wrong number and it took him 20 minutes to call back and when he did, he stumbled with his words, asking if this was the right number to the hotel.

His friend Johnnie shared with me the day she met Kevin. She had only been dating Ryan for a short time and had heard a lot about Kevin. She was excited to meet Ryan’s best friend. That day, she thought she heard someone pull into her driveway, but there was no knock at the door. She got up to investigate. She looked out in shock and horror as, and I quote, “this giant of a man hacked and stabbed an old sofa to pieces that she’d set out on the curb” … with a huge sword! Ryan came to the window, laughed, said “Kevin’s here.” He opened the door and said, “Cool, you got a new sword!” Johnnie had no idea the sword-wielding man would become not only her best friend as well but the most adored and dearest uncle to her children Destiny and Aleya.

One way that Kevin enjoyed connecting with people was through games. Not only video games – which he definitely loved, but also through sit down, in person games. He was very active in high school and beyond playing Magic: The Gathering, and Dungeons and Dragons. We were always finding random dice in the laundry. He loved spending time with his friends in these ways, and formed some very special relationships doing so. He was active in world of Warcraft for a long time, and very active and adept at fantasy football. Every year he would play at least 6 teams, and usually ended up winning money at the end of the season. He’s actually got a pretty awesome League trophy right now. I was so excited to share my team with him the first year I played. He was so patient with my newbie enthusiasm, and he helped me with my lineups a few times. I was happy to be able to share that interest with him. Along with indoor, sit down games, Kevin was also an avid Frisbee golfer. He loved going through the courses, spending time outside with his friends.

His great intellect was enhanced by the books that he read. He was a voracious reader. He always had a book in his hand – well, it used to be a real live paperback book, but lately it was a kindle or nook or some other e-reader. It was never odd to see Kevin reading, whether it was at a family gathering, standing outside waiting for something, or just sitting on the couch after dinner. He was a reader from a very young age – mom told me that when her mom, Grandma Nancy, was sick and staying with us, Kevin would read to her to help her feel better.

He was about 11 at the time and he would read to her from the book called “Momilies” which was little anecdotes and quips from mothers around the world. It had sayings like “clean your room” and “don’t make me pull this car over!” Which were both things that Kevin and I heard mom say often while growing up.

Kevin loved his family and his friends. He was always available to help out when needed or lend a listening ear. Whenever mom needed help setting something up, Kevin was always there. When I was having a rough time after a breakup, Kevin was there to listen and offer up advice – and to threaten the lives of whoever was causing me pain and heartache. He was so loyal – both to his family and his friends. He was a champion for us when our family went through hardships, and he was there for his friends without fail, whether it was providing a ride, a place to stay for the night, or a place to live. Kevin rarely thought about himself, he was more concerned with the well-being of others. I think he was happiest when he was doing things for other people.

Johnnie Williams shared another story that exemplifies this quality in Kevin: One day the power went out at Johnnie and Ryan’s during a nasty storm. They were told the electricity would be out for days, and Kevin called to check on them. Their daughters, Destiny and Aleya, who had been without electricity for maybe an hour, [ ] asked who she was talking to on the phone. Johnnie told them, “It’s Uncle Kevin,” and the girls began chanting for him to come rescue them. Kevin said to her, “Tell them I’m on the way”. The girls packed their bags and did a “we are running away to Uncle Kevin’s” dance. He kept them a few days until the power came back on and completely spoiled them.

It’s hard to sum up the life of a man who died too soon. The words to express how great, how wonderful, how clever, how funny, how loyal he was all seem to fall flat. The truth of it is, he still had so much living to do. There are so many people out there that haven’t met him, and who don’t understand the hole that all of us have in our hearts right now. It’s them I feel bad for: the people that never heard that snorty laugh, who never got to play games with him, who never experienced his helping hand. Every person who met Kevin remembers him with a big smile on his face, and if they were lucky, they got to see his dimples , which were a gift to see. I can’t tell you how much I will miss that dimple, that laugh, that listening ear, and that free tech support.

Kevin was our son, nephew, cousin, classmate, co-worker, friend, uncle, family, and our brother. But mostly, he IS and will continue to be a huge part of our hearts. Thank you all for honoring Kevin by being here today. May God bless the life of my brother, Kevin Michael Mathias.

Written by Jill (Mathias) Price and Julia Grawemeyer, delivered by Jill Price on December 6, 2014 at the Celebration of Life service at Church of the Messiah UMC in Westerville, Ohio. Anecdotes and memories provided by Connie Mathias, Bobbie Grawemeyer, Chris Green, Johnnie Williams, and Jill Price.

Ohio Girl Gone South

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