He leaves behind his beloved son, Samuel Joseph Brown, his four sisters; Jill (Ron) Dean, Jennifer (Greg) Hurley, Kelly Jorgenson, Kate (Michael) Fraser, and numerous nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his father Charles Brown and his mother Lois Wetzel Brown.
Matt was born January 14, 1962, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and was raised in Oxford, Ohio. After graduating from Talawanda High School in 1980, Matt attended the University of Texas, Austin and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business in 1985. He attended law school at the University of Houston, and in 1991 earned his JD.
Matt spent most of his career as a criminal defense attorney in and around Harris County. Matt had a servant’s heart, and in both his professional and volunteer work was passionate about helping the under-served, including those with substance abuse issues. His colleagues describe him as quick-witted, funny, and always generous in sharing his legal expertise and time with anyone who could benefit from it.
Matt reignited his childhood passion for the outdoors and running in his 50s. The mountains of Colorado were his favorite place to hike. He summited five of Colorado’s infamous 14ers and planned to tackle many more. He completed a triathlon, many 5K and 10Ks, and seven marathons including the Boston Marathon in 2019. He continuously sought out new experiences and challenges for himself, and was never content that he’d seen or done enough.
Matt was a rabid football and baseball fan, especially of the Cincinnati Bengals, the Chicago Cubs, the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Houston Cougars. At 60, Matt was still a kid at heart and never met a child or dog he didn’t love. He was a constant source of lively entertainment and fun, delighting everyone with his antics. His infectious laughter could light up an entire room.
Matt had a gift of remaining connected to extended family and friends both near and far. He cared for everyone in his wide circle with a genuine sincerity and warmth. Matt was deeply grateful for the life-changing support and encouragement that he received from so many people in his AA community. He was an inspiration for many, but he also openly and courageously acknowledged his struggles. Matt fought hard for his sobriety and maintained it for almost a decade, through the relentless pursuit of the best version of himself and a bottomless well of courage and hope.
Matt left us way too soon, but our hearts are full of amazing memories that will live with us until we meet him again someday.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, October 22nd at Heights Funeral Home, 1317 Heights Blvd, at 11am, reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, donations honoring Matt’s memory may be made to The Council on Recovery in the greater Houston area. (www.councilonrecovery.org)
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.heightsfuneralhome.com for the Brown family.
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