Matt was born on October 10, 1968, in Wheeling, West Virginia, to Bette (Hadsell) and Frank Kaufman. As a kid, he could always be found outside fishing, hunting, and playing baseball alongside his brother, Mark. He graduated with honors from Wheeling Park High School in 1986. He graduated West Virginia University in 1990 with a B.S. in Accounting.
While working for Arthur Andersen in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, he met Christine. They later married in 1997. Dogs were his first kids, followed shortly by two children, Maria (24) and Billy (21), who he loved and adored more than anything. Work moved him and his family to Columbus, Ohio, in 2005. It’s here that he thrived and built a community of lifelong friends.
He practiced as a CPA for 33 years. He was known for his extraordinary intelligence and well-respected by co-workers and clients. It was important to him to work hard in every endeavor, not only to provide for his family but also to be available for all school events and sports. For many years he played an active role in Billy’s Boy Scout Troop (299), especially during the fall Shoot-o-Ree outing.
You only needed to speak with Matt for a moment to know how much he adored his family. No matter how large or small the request, he always put others first. He was well known for his lighthearted demeanor and ability to find the humor in everything. He was so quick witted and enjoyed making people laugh.
He had a passion for cooking and entertaining others. A typical Friday night for Matt would include gathering friends and family, cooking delicious food in the pizza oven, and opening more than enough bottles of wine for everyone. He brought people together and made them feel loved.
Sports were a large part of his life. To the annoyance of anyone who played sports with him, he was a natural at all of them. He enjoyed watching professional hockey, golf, and football, holding Steelers season tickets for more than 30 years. He began volunteering and then joined the board of Fore Hope, an adaptive golf program empowering those with neurological conditions. He dedicated many years to assisting in golfer’s weekly experiences.
Matt is survived by his wife, his parents, his children, and his brother Mark (Anne).
Funeral visitation will be held on Saturday, July 20, 2024, at Schoedinger Dublin from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. This will be followed by a candlelight ceremony at the Muirfield Village gazebo (8372 Muirfield Drive) at 8:30 p.m. Stories and special moments of Matt can be shared at that time. In addition, a brunch will be held on Sunday, July 21, 2024, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Kaufman residence (6745 Longshore Street).
In remembrance of Matt’s life, please consider a charitable donation to either OhioHealth Fore Hope https://foundation.ohiohealth.com/fore-hope or OSU James Cancer Hospital https://giveto.osu.edu/makeagift/details/314420?Source_Code=AGAG-OTH-S-ON-GivingSiteNav.
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