Matthew Wilson Kovar

Matthew Wilson Kovar (58) of Marblehead, MA and Thornton, NH passed away on July 4, 2025. After surviving metastatic melanoma for five years, demonstrating remarkable strength and resilience, he was diagnosed with treatment-related acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in April which proved very aggressive and unforgiving.

Matthew grew up in the Cedar Cove area of Swansea where he learned to swim and sail, beginning a lifelong love affair with the water. When his mother remarried, he moved to Londonderry, NH where he grew Christmas trees on his stepfather’s farm, Woodmont Apple Orchards. He began skiing at the age of four and eventually became a member of the Waterville Valley Black & Blue Trail Smashers racing program. In order to receive an education while race training full-time, Matthew attended the Holderness School, Waterville Valley Academy, and Burke Mountain Academy. Matthew was also an outstanding wind surfer and could often be found on the beaches of Maui and Boston’s South Shore.

Matthew attended the American College of Switzerland while downhill racing in Europe. He returned to the U.S. and graduated from Babson College in 1990, received an MBA from Babson in 1994, and his CFA in 1999. After graduation from the Babson MBA program, Matthew worked for H. Ross Perot’s Electronic Data Systems in Connecticut. He then spent 8 years as Vice President of Research at The Yankee Group in Boston. The greatest achievement of his career was the founding of Circumventive in 2010 which was his life-long dream job, realizing his entrepreneurial spirit.

Matthew’s son Kai was his pride and joy, and they shared a passion for skiing and watersports. He was the ultimate sports dad coaching soccer, baseball, and lacrosse, and instigating many skiing, biking, and fishing trips with Kai and his friends. In the winters Matthew could be found with Kai bombing down the mountain, slipping the race course at every competition, cheering from the finish line, and then having animated post-race discussions. In the summer he followed Kai at his sailing regattas either from a boat or on his paddle board. Every year Matthew hosted the annual ‘Steak Night’ in NH where many steaks and much wine were consumed by family and friends.

Matthew is the son of the late Merrell Kovar Lievens and Wilson Otokar Kovar, and the stepson of the late William Edward Lievens. Matthew is survived by his loving wife Sue, their cherished 14-year-old son Kai, and his brother Richardson J. Kovar and sister-in-law Elizabeth L. Butler.

To celebrate Matthew's life, a Paddle Out Ceremony will be held in Marblehead Harbor on August 9th. A Paddle Out is rooted in surf culture and Hawaiian traditions with spiritual and communal elements. This special event will allow friends and family to come together, share memories, and honor the remarkable life Matthew lived. All who knew and loved him are invited to join this heartfelt tribute. More details to be shared via social media. In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to the Waterville Valley Black and Blue Trail Smashers at https://www.wvbbts.org/about/support-wvabbts/105075