Matthew Earl Morrall

Matt was born on May 27, 1957 to Earl Morrall and Jane Morrall in Lansing, Michigan. He and his four siblings grew up living around the country where his father played professional football, but their family home was primarily in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. There, Matt attended Brother Rice High School where he played football for its 1974 State Championship team. He was an outstanding scholar and athlete.

Tired of the cold, Matt attended the University of Florida, where he earned a BSBA in economics and a Juris Doctorate, graduating in 1981. Matt loved his Gators! He was a 3 year letterman as an offensive lineman for the UF football team and was a member of the ATO fraternity.

Upon graduation from UF, Matt practiced law in Fort Lauderdale where he met the love of his life, Julie, on a bus to a Miami v. Florida football game. Julie, recognizing the total catch that he was, boldly asked Matt out to a Springsteen concert, and the rest is history. They wed in 1988.

In 1993, Matt opened his own practice and continued practicing law for 31 years, building a reputation as a steady, honorable man. He enjoyed his work but even more so enjoyed the camaraderie of the environment created when he and Seiler, Sautter, Zaden & Rimes purchased a building to work in together.

Matt was also a partner in several South Florida businesses, most notably the Coral Ridge Country Club, his favorite place to golf with friends or brunch with family.

Matt and Julie’s four children were his greatest joy and accomplishment. He loved talking business with Jayme, dreaming up stories with Shannon, watching anime with Matthew, and yucking it up with Sara. He committed himself 110% to ensuring their growth, happiness, and well-being, supporting them with guidance and wisdom as they navigated the opportunities life offers.

Matt was a huge trivia buff, loved Sunday golf, and never turned down a chance to play blackjack. But beyond all else, Matt was a man of the South Florida community and, through the Florida Sports Hall of Fame, Brian Piccolo Chapter, and the Youth Automotive Training Center, he advocated the power of sports to bring people - young and old - together.

In 1993, Matt helped create the Blockbuster Bowl and chaired it in 1994. In 2002, he joined the Orange Bowl committee, serving on the board of directors and as Chair of seven committees, including the Orange Bowl Florida High School Football Showcase, which has overall connected $8 million in college financial aid with local youth athletes. During his 22 years, Matt had key leadership roles in arranging four college football national championship games locally.

Matt was just an amazing person. He was kind, funny and smart. Once you were a friend of Matt’s, you were a friend for life. He will be missed tremendously by his family as his passing has created a hole in their world that cannot be replaced - although his legacy of strength, compassion, and humor lives on through them.

He is survived by his wife, Julie, and their children, Jayme, Shannon, Sara and Matthew; sisters, Mardi (Tom), Mindi, and Meghan; brother, Mitch (Elizabeth), nieces, Caiti (Phil), Regan, Mackenzie; nephews, William, Bobby; and grand-niece Capri.

The Mass for Matt will be held at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church on July 2, 2024, beginning at 10:30 am, officiated by the Rev. Patrick Naughton. A reception will follow.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be made in honor of Matt through the donation tab below. All donations will be directed to the benefit of the National Football Foundation’s Brian Piccolo Chapter, where Matt served on the board of directors for over 40 years, in support of amateur football and local high school scholar-athletes.