Matthew Brian Ostrowski

Matt is survived by his parents, Edward and Karen (Fraser) Ostrowski of Dublin, OH, and his daughter Sofia (his Boof!) and Sofia’s extraordinary mother, Marina Caropreso, of São Paulo and Dublin. He leaves his brother Dan (Dana Lee) of Seattle, WA, brother Steve (Kaytee Ankrom) of Dublin, OH, and his sister Kelly (Tyler Saunier) of South Hadley, MA. He leaves the tiny children of his siblings: Caroline, Ellen Po, and Niko. He is survived by his maternal grandmother Carole Ruggieri, formerly of Boardman and now Dublin, OH, and paternal grandfather Edward Ostrowski Sr. of Campbell OH. He leaves his aunts Linda Frease (Dave), Dianne Beatty (Bill), Vivian Ostrowski (Anne Moore), Dixie Duncan (Winston), and his uncle Brian Fraser, along with a gazillion cousins, second cousins, cousins once removed, family by blood and family by choice, through Grandpa Lee, Granny Cricket and her beautiful Roper Connection legacy, sweet connections in Brasil and across the world. People on four continents are grieving his loss.

Matt packed a ridiculous amount of life into his forty years. He loved futbol, the World Cup, Prague, Arsenal, Youngstown mobsters, and the underdog. Matt hated fascism, pretense, Trump, gentrification, and Putin. He had an infectious joie de la vie for food, drink, and travel. He was pro-choice, pro-worker, pro-queer, pro-immigrant, pro-freedom. He really wanted a better world for all of us. He was always the best storyteller in the room.

Matt was born in Columbus OH, educated in Dublin schools, and graduated with a political science degree from Ohio University in Athens. He worked hard on the 2004 Kerry campaign and was totally disillusioned about race and class disparities in the polling process. He taught English in the Czech Republic from 2005 until 2011 to elementary school students, some who remain in contact today, and played for the Partisans, a diverse multinational futbol club in Prague. Matt traveled extensively, using his love for sports and politics and his gift for language to connect with local people. He proudly earned yellow cards in many countries.

Addiction is a tough disease. Matt struggled to find balance with that discord and his love for family and friends and justice and life. His personal struggle ended on Tuesday. His glorious generosity will live forever.

Matt is predeceased by his maternal grandfathers Thomas Fraser and Lee Scharrer. His paternal Grandma Ellen is welcoming him home. They adored each other.

Calling hours are Monday 3/6 from 10-12, immediately followed by a memorial service at Dublin United Church of Christ, 81 W Bridge Street, Dublin Ohio 43017.

In lieu of flowers, consider Sofia’s college fund at UGift529.com, Ugift Code 384A22.