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Thoughts
about Matt Schleich
Not long
after Matt and Sherie moved in across the street, my husband Mike
started calling Matt “Opie.”
I wasn’t sure where Mike was going with this, but the
nickname was certainly fitting – Matt was the ultimate
‘All-American Boy Next Door.’
Every story,
comment and memory that I came up with about Matt have a similar
theme – his total love and adoration for Sherie – and hers for
him. It was obvious
when we first met this wonderful couple, and better-than-that
neighbor, that they had a special relationship.
One of the first things that Sherie told me after they moved
in across the street was that they wouldn’t be living there long.
I thought that an odd thing to say, since they had just moved
in. When I asked her
why, she told me “Because this boy is taking me places.”
I asked her to explain further, and she said that she knew
they’d be back in Ohio shortly – you see Matt worked for Timken
at the time, and Timken’s headquarters were located in Ohio.
I started to understand what she meant then, and after I got
to know them and Matt a little better, I understood exactly what
Sherie meant – and she was right – they wouldn’t live on Royal
Glen Drive very long, and they did move to Ohio…
On the way,
Matt got his masters degree while working full-time, of course,
which meant that he would go to school on Saturdays.
“The neighbors” had gotten into a Friday night TGIF
ritual throughout that summer and Matt would tell us –“You’re
killing me – I have to study, I have school tomorrow.”
And Sherie would come on her own.
Many of us might have ‘blown off’ the studying – but
not Matt – if he was going to be ‘taking his girl places’ that
meant a few sacrifices, and lots of self discipline. He was up to the task.
One of my
favorite memories of Matt was a day up at the Spaulding’s lake
house. Matt and Sherie
had invited several families to come and spend the day boating,
swimming, hanging out, eating, playing Canadian Crud (a Schleich
family specialty!), enjoying a bonfire and generally having a great
time. While Matt and
Sherie worked, the rest of us enjoyed.
Matt spent the entire day driving the boat and taking us all
on tours of the lake and tubing. I’m sure he would have rather been relaxing, and having a
beer with us, but as the designated boat driver, that would have to
wait. Matt was one of
those special people, who was patient and easy going, always with a
good sense of humor. We
took several pictures of Matt that day, and these are some of our
favorites of him – he seemed so comfortable and happy in that
role. Matt was a very
generous person, especially with his time.
I used to
enjoy coming home and seeing Matt playing basketball on the
driveway. He and Elroy
would be out there blowing off some steam at the end of the day.
One Friday, Matt was out there, and Sherie wasn’t home.
Mike wasn’t home yet either, and there was a truck selling
furniture on our block. Matt
and I decided to go check it out.
I hope Matt made some commission on the sale, because he
talked me into getting a couch, loveseat and lounge chair for our
newly finished basement! When
Mike got home there was no room in the garage for his car.
I clearly
recall one Saturday evening that the Schleich’s invited us over
for a few cocktails. Mike
and I are usually up for this, and Sherie and I are – her words,
not mine – wine soul mates, so off we went.
Audrey was a baby and still an only child, and we proceeded
to enjoy ourselves and have some fun conversation.
At some point, Sherie went up to put Audrey to bed and Matt
and Mike and I continued a spirited conversation, for 10 minutes
which turned into 30 and then 45 and then close to an hour and
Sherie didn’t come back. At
some point, Matt looked up at us both and said “you know, I
don’t think she’s coming back…” It must have been the way he said it, or the stating of the
obvious, or just the look on this boy next door (or in this case,
across the street) that made the three of us laugh until we just
about cried. We said
goodnight then and knew we’d meet up to have another cocktail,
another day.
Matt was one
of those special people who was genuinely interested in others.
He could probably tell you more about me, than I could about
him – and everyone else he knew.
I remember having several conversations when I would ask him
about running, about selling, about Timken, about getting his
masters, about golf, or boating, or Elroy and I would end up talking
about me! Matt Schleich
was that kind of guy.
Since
December 15th, I keep looking at the house and the
basketball hoop across the street.
But there is no sound of dribbling, no ball hitting the
backboard. Since the
Schleich’s moved on to Ohio, and since then to Wisconsin, Royal
Glen Drive has not been the same.
The basketball hoop has been quiet.
There have since been 2 new neighbors to arrive in that
house, and no one has played basketball.
But now the silence is heartbreaking.
We will
forever miss you Matt, until we meet up again.
We love you Sherie, Audrey, Kate and Grant,
The
Segersons
Mike, Julie,
Jack and K.C.
Post Note:
We were blessed that Matt and Sherie moved onto our block and
became our friends. We
were further blessed that we got to share in the arrival of Audrey
and Kate and to watch and hopefully support the journey they took to
receive them into their family. Matt and Sherie are two of the most generous people I have
ever met. They have
been wonderful and kind to my children and to us.
The loss of Matt is devastating – but for all the hurt and
pain we feel by his loss, we are reminded how lucky we are that he
came into our lives for a period of time, no matter how short, that
we will never forget.
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