Matthew Gregory Highnam

We unexpectedly lost Matt due to complications from long COVID – which he had battled with courage and optimism over the past year. Although COVID may have robbed him of his boundless energy, he refused to let it steal his drive, optimism, love of family and friends, or his acerbic, witty sense of humor.

Matt was born in Lakeland, FL and spent his formative years in Gibsonville, NC, West Hartford, CT, Parker, CO, and finally Boulder, CO. He is the second of three beloved sons to Mandy and Greg Highnam of Janesville, WI. In addition to his parents, Matt leaves behind his brothers Mitch and Josh, and many loving family members and friends. Matt was predeceased by his paternal grandfather, Jack Highnam.

As a child, Matt developed a love for sports and was a lifelong fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers and the LA Lakers. Sports were an integral part of his life. He was a walking encyclopedia of player stats for the NBA and NFL. He was very competitive – beginning with earning his black belt in Tae Kwon Do, playing town league basketball in West Hartford, high school volleyball and football in both West Hartford and Parker, and even with his family during a round of miniature golf. Anyone who played sports video games with him knew he hated to lose!

Everyone who met Matt immediately recognized that he was genuine, he had a big heart, an insatiable passion for life, and a smile that could light up a room. He had a larger than life personality: outgoing, gregarious, but loyal to his friends. His friends meant the world to him; he was always ready and willing at a moment’s notice to lend a helping hand or a sympathetic ear.

His passion extended to his beloved CU Buffs and Boulder – which was his home the past 11 years. In Boulder, he found a shared passion for its focus on diversity and environment sustainability. At CU – he earned his Bachelor of Science in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, and Integrative Physiology.

During high school and college, Matt worked at Subway and was the fastest sandwich maker you’d ever seen! After obtaining his undergrad in 2015, he worked several positions for CU, including Resident Student Manager. Matt had a passion for helping and caring for others. He also began work as a Clinical Assistant at Boulder Community Clinic – eventually earning the position of Lead Anesthesia Tech/Cardiothoracic Surgical Specialist Assistant at Boulder Community Hospital until he left due to complications from COVID. He believed this hands-on experience would provide him a better foundation for his career aspiration. Matt was preparing to enter medical school and wanted to become a cardiac surgeon. We have no doubt that he would have made his dream come true.

We invite all of Matt’s loved ones and friends to join us in celebrating his wonderful life at Crist Mortuary on Saturday October 2, 2021 at 11 AM Mountain Time. Casual attire is preferred.

For those who would like to give a gift to honor Matt, we worked with the University of Colorado-Anschutz to establish a medical scholarship in Matt's name. Even though his umtimely passing prevented Matt from achieving his dream, he would be proud to leave a lasting legacy to help others become a doctor or a surgeon. Here is the link to the website where you can enter your donation: http://www.giving.cu.edu/MatthewHighnam

On behalf of Josh, Mitch, Mandy, and Greg - thanks for your donation!

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.cristmortuary.com for the HIGHNAM family.