Matthew J. Moody

Matthew John Moody, 82, of Largo, passed away on November 22. He was predeceased by his wife, Arlene Joyce Moody; Nancy Bedingfield Moody, his former wife and the mother of his children; his parents, Mary Louise and John William Moody; and siblings John (Jay), Thomas, James, and Mary Lou. He is survived by sisters Diane (DeeDee) and Kathleen; sons Daniel, Stephen, and Patrick; daughters-in-law Marianne and Zeynep; son-in-law Dennis; grandsons Daniel, Jeffrey, Aidan, Brendan, and Darren; great-grandchildren Anna Lee, Levi David, Bella Grace, and Joshua; many nieces and nephews; cousins; and countless cherished friends and colleagues.

Matt was born in New York City on December 13, 1940. He was the middle child of seven children. Matt attended high school at Power Memorial Academy in Manhattan. He is a veteran of the United States Army and a graduate of the College of Insurance in New York. Matt spent most of his professional life with Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (MetLife). He moved his family from Rockville Centre, New York to Tampa, Florida in 1979.

Matt enjoyed traveling, playing golf, dining out with family and friends, and playing clarinet with a variety of bands over the years. Occasionally he would sit in on a jam session at a jazz club or neighborhood bar. He was particularly fond of jazz, and at one point played clarinet, saxophone, and flute. He supported charities and, most notably, sponsored a girl from Kenya, Joan, for 22 years through a program that provided food, education, and birthday gifts. Matt stayed in contact with Joan through the rest of his life.

Matt and Arlene enjoyed many summers together at their lake house in Algonac, Michigan and were longtime parishioners at St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church in Clearwater. A funeral mass will be held for Matt on Saturday, December 30th, at 11 a.m. at that church, located at 1955 S Belcher Rd.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you consider making a donation to the music department at Florida College Academy at 7032 Temple Terrace Hwy, Temple Terrace, FL 33617. Please make checks payable to Florida College, Inc., and write “FCA MUSIC” in the memo line.