He was born in Hartford, CT on 5/15/1976.
He shared his life and was married to Carleen (Gordon) Rivera, and they were together for 23 years.
Before medically retiring, he worked at the University of Hartford as a Public Safety Officer and Field Training Officer.
Prior to that he worked at the St. Francis Medical Center, in Hartford, CT as a K9 Officer and Hospital Security Supervisor.
He was preceded in death by his stepson Nicki Gordon.
He is survived by his wife, Carleen (Gordon) Rivera, son, Matthew Rivera III & daughter-in-law, Janery Rivera, step children, Richie, Ava, Samantha, Crystal, Felicia, his parents Matthew Rivera Sr. and step-mother, Esther Rivera and mother, Sylvia Rivera, his siblings, Teresa-Marie Rivera and Jose-Angel Rivera, sister-in-law, Suzana Santos, maternal grandmother, Liduvina DeJesus, aunts, Olga Reyes, Rosalinda Staples & husband Jon Staples, Zaida Berrios & husband Rafael Berrios, Iris DeJesus, Elizabeth DeJesus, Raymond Dejesus, & Lydia DeJesus, Uncle Frankie Cruz Sr. & Aunt Zoraida Cruz, cousins, Delaney Staples, Olivia Staples, Shannon Staples, Frank Cruz Jr., MaryAnn Cruz & Richard, Christopher St. Louis, Amalia Aensland, Adam Reyes, Iris Sanjuro, Carlos DeJesus, Alvia DeJesus, his grand-children Ariellys Rivera, Matthew Rivera IV, Ariel, Nikkia, Ryan, Clayton Jr., Leah, Naila, Dillion and Zoey, nieces Lissette Alexi Rivera and Allysa-Marie Rivera, nephews Benjamin Rivera, John Anthony Cromedy Jr. and Ezequiel Rivera Santos, great nephews Noah Joseph Quintero and Damien Correa Jr. and God mother Helen-Marie Phelan. Matty leaves behind two fur babies, Pebbles (Pepe) & Ruby and is predeceased by his loyal pup Rocky. He leaves behind his exceptional caretaker Lydia Ortiz and many more friends and family that loved him.
Reflection of Matty:
As a child he was the oldest of 3, originally from Hartford, CT then moved to Newington in middle school. He was the big brother. He was involved in sports. He played for the McKinley Crafa Baseball League from a young age up to his teenage years. Along with being very athletic he was involved in the Boy Scouts Troop 105. He learned many life skills in Boy Scouts and spent many summers and weekends camping in the Lake of Isles in Ledyard CT.
As a teenager he loved to lift weights and break dance. He went to trade school to become an Electrical Apprentice but eventually started a career as a Public Safety Officer at the University of Hartford where he strived as a Field Training Officer.
Matty was a loving father, uncle and husband and his family grew. He was an avid gardener that loved to talk about the fruit, vegetables and hot peppers he grew.
He was a loving, caring, gentle soul that made everyone laugh. He was so easy to love. His memory will live on in our hearts through eternity.
A private service will be held on a later date, TBD with Matthew’s family, to honor his life.
To leave an online condolence to the family, please visit our website at www.baldwinfairchild.com
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