Matthew Glenn Huff

Matthew Glenn Huff

Matthew Glenn Huff, 27, of Westfield and Bound Brook, NJ, entered life eternal on Friday, September 3, 2021. Matthew passed away quickly as the result of a car accident. He was born April 19, 1994, in Red Bank, NJ to Timothy and Linda Huff.

 Matt was raised and graduated high school in Westfield, NJ (2012). He received his bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences from the University of Pittsburgh (2016). Matt loved rowing as a member of Westfield Crew during high school, and on the PITT crew during college, even serving as the President his senior year. His high points in rowing included winning gold at the Head of the Ohio in Pittsburgh, winning the Knecht Cup in NJ, and being selected to compete for Pitt at the Head of the Charles in Boston, MA.

After his time at Pitt, Matt earned a Master of Science degree in Earth and Environmental Science from Lehigh University (2019).  He began working at Engineering and Land Planning Associates, High Bridge, NJ, as a Staff Scientist. Matt loved his profession and the people he worked with. He was promoted to Sr. Staff Scientist, and recently promoted to Project Scientist in 2021. He was responsible primarily for data analysis, field sampling, and project design of environmental remediation projects.

From the minute he could hold a rod, Matt was an avid fisherman. He spent many weekends working towards his goal to fish every body of water in New Jersey. In 2017, he attained Master Angler Status in the NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife’s Skillful Angler Awards Program. He did this by catching a qualifying fish in five different freshwater species within a one-year period. The data submitted in the program helps biologists evaluate the condition of Fisheries. That’s what Matt loved most about the awards program, the science behind it.

As an elementary school student, Matt was described by his teachers as a boy who enjoyed entertaining his peers. This gift endured. Matt’s sense of humor and easy way made friends, family, and colleagues feel loved and connected. Children especially gravitated to Matt, and he had endless energy to play, fish, and pass on his love of life. Matt was someone you could trust and confide in, and he cared deeply for everyone in his life.  He was always the first one to jump at plans with his friends and family, constantly coming up with new ways to have fun. Matt was content with the present, working towards his goals and never worrying about what lay ahead. He would get excited over “every day” things, like trying a new ingredient while cooking with his girlfriend, taking in the view on a hike with his sister, or watching the Giants, Nets, or Yankees games with his parents. He could always be found celebrating the end of a good day at the fire pit, enjoying a S’more or two.

Matt loved nature, and believed it was a gift to be born into the natural world. He loved to fish, hike, and observe the natural evidence of how our ecosystems evolved. Anyone who walked through nature with Matt experienced his contagious fascination and excitement. If it was a bad day fishing, he came home exhilarated at seeing insects hatching on the water’s surface, or a loon gliding underwater beneath the canoe. He was not afraid of what comes after this life and wished to have his ashes placed in some of his favorite natural places where they might later become part of a rock, a tree, or a bog. To his core, Matt viewed life as a gift, and he believed the purpose was to be present, live to the fullest and love as much as possible. He had a simple wish for his life, just to leave the world a little better than he found it.

Matthew is survived by his parents Timothy and Linda, sister Lauren, girlfriend Emily Peters, paternal grandfather the Reverend Gordon Huff, paternal grandmother Carol Huff, maternal grandparents Kenneth and Sarah Warman, Jr, as well as many loving aunts, uncles, and cousins.

A Wake will be held on Monday, September 20 from 4-8pm at Higgins & Bonner Echo Lake Funeral Home in Westfield, NJ. Masks will be required.

A Funeral Service to celebrate Matthew Huff’s life will be held on Tuesday, September 21 at 11am at Calvary Lutheran Church in Cranford, NJ. Masks will be required.

In lieu of flowers, please donate in Matthew Huff’s honor to the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife (NJDFW) or to Calvary Lutheran Church of Cranford, NJ.

Mail checks to: NJDFW

Note that the donation is in Matthew Huff’s memory

MC 501-03 P.O. Box 420

Trenton, NJ 08625-0420

Or

Mail checks to: Calvary Lutheran Church

Note that the donation is in Matthew Huff’s memory

108 Eastman St.

Cranford, NJ 07016

The funeral will be livestreamed to those unable to attend in person.  The link can be found here. https://www.njstreaming.com/huff

This link is for those attending the service. Please open the page and print it, the document has information about the funeral as well as parking. Attendee Funeral and Parking Instructions

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