Steve “Squash” Matthews ’66 enters Chapter Eternal

Steven James Matthews, ’66, aged 75, Kokomo, passed away Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2019, at his home. He was born May 9, 1944, in Rochester, New York, the son of the late James Samuel Matthews and Sarah Alice (Sutcliffe) Matthews Leaty. On June 11, 1966, in Rochester, New York, he married his high school sweetheart, Leonore “Bunny” Tomkosky, who survives.

Steve graduated from Rush-Henrietta Central High School and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, where he received his bachelor’s in metallurgical engineering and was a member of Sigma Chi. After working in Groton, Connecticut, as a nuclear welding engineer for General Dynamic’s Electric Boat Division, he returned to RPI for a master’s in materials engineering. Steven retired in 2010 from Haynes International after 40 years in the Research & Development Department, where he co-authored more than 15 technical papers and was listed as co-inventor on 7 U.S. Patents. Steven was a member of St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church, and the Knights of Columbus. While he loved the outdoors, he also enjoyed enjoyed working in the kitchen without recipes and specializing in surprisingly delicious dishes mostly using leftovers for ingredients.

Along with his wife Bunny, Steve is survived by his children, Travis (Holly) Matthews, Theresa (Kent) Vernon, and Mark (Amy) Matthews; grandchildren, Molly Matthews, Ryan Matthews, Erica Matthews, and Alina Matthews; brother, William (Darlene) Matthews; and stepmother, Shirley Matthews.

Steve was preceded in death by his parents; and stepfather, Chuck Leaty.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Monday, Sept. 23, at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church, 3155 S. 200 West, with the Rev. Father Matthew Arbuckle the celebrant. Burial will follow in Albright Cemetery. Friends are invited to visit with the family 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday at Shirley & Stout Funeral Home & Crematory, 1315 W. Lincoln Road, where the Rosary will be offered at 5 p.m.

Memorial contributions may be made in Steve’s memory to esophageal cancer research at the IU Simon Cancer Center, P.O. Box 7072, Indianapolis, IN 46207. Messages of condolence may be left online at http://www.shirleyandstout.com.