http://obits.dignitymemorial.com/dignity-memorial/obituary.aspx?n=Matthew-LaPorte&lc=4681&pid=150471557&mid=4645571&locale=en-US

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	There are 135 photos in the gallery View Photo Gallery Funeral Etiquette What To Do Before, During and After a Funeral Service What To Say When Someone Passes Away What To Wear To a Funeral Service Helping a Friend Cope With Grief What To Say When You Don’t Know What To Say		Matthew David LaPorte September 11, 1970 – April 20, 2011 Visitation/Services Obituary Memorial Service Saturday, April 30, 2011 | 3:00pm Moss Feaster Funeral Home 13401 Indian Rocks Road, Largo, Florida 33774 | 727-562-2080 Driving Directions LaPorte, Matthew D. 40 of Seminole, FL passed away on Wednesday, April 20, 2011 at his home. Born on Sept. 11, 1970 in Clearwater, FL. Matt was a professional musician,guitar instructor and composer. Matt was a guitarist in the Jon Oliva’s Pain Band and toured with them worldwide. He graduated from Pinellas Park High School in 1988 and attended Professional Guitar School in Minneapolis, MN and the St. Petersburg Jr. college. Survived by his loving mother Sharon (Richard) Paul of Largo, FL, a brother Lawrence R. (Colleen) LaPorte of Manhattan Beach, CA and a sister Laura LaPorte of St. Louis Park, MN and 5 nieces and nephews. Matt was preceded in death by his father Kenneth D. LaPorte. Matt will be missed but long remembered by his family and many friends, students and music lovers all over the world. In lieu of flowers, the family is establishing the Matthew LaPorte Music Scholarship fund. Memorial services will be held on Saturday, April 30, 2011 at 3 pm at the Moss Feaster Funeral Home, 13401 Indian Rocks Road, Largo, FL 727-562-2080       727-562-2080      . Further information may be located at www.mossfeasterlargo.com. Print: Share:

My god, it’s tough to see it like this. His picture should be on a new album somewhere, not next to his obituary…

When someone dies, you suddenly see people all over the place claiming to have been close with the person who passed away. I can’t claim that Matt and I were close, by any means, but this is a man that I’ve talked with, joked with… and I’ve seen him play so many times all over Europe for the past five years.

Eventhough I never had any long conversations with Matt, I remember how he used to light up and smile when he saw me. A smile, a “hi” and maybe one of his silly jokes, that was always “on the menu”.

My point is that of all the people in the JOP-family, I found Matt to be the quiet one who it took a little longer to get to know compared to the others. He loved to joke around though – and he knew how easy it was to gross me out. So he would do anything he could think of to make me go “eeeewwww!”.

I found this short clip for instance. Florence, Italy, Viper Club – I think it was 2008. The two guitarists are talking – Tom and Matt. Matt notices my camera and immediately thinks of something to do that might gross me out. I guess I couldn’t help smiling at times either.

5532_Tom&Matt.MOV
Watch on Posterous

I sat here most of the evening last night, going through old photos and videos from the past JOP tours. I shouldn’t have. Just feels sad to realize that it’s all in the past now. The band lost Greg (Marchak, producer and sound-wizard on the JOP tours…) a few years ago. It hit everyone hard. And now Matt.

It feels so wrong when a talented guy who’s only 40, passes away… I’m sure he is in a better placec now, talking old times with Criss Oliva, Greg and maybe a few of his passed heroes as well.
Nikki Sixx called death a graduation. You’ve earned your right to go to the next level, wherever that may be. I think that might very well be true.

 Jon Oliva’s Pain sent out a bulletin earlier this evening, that said “We look forward to seeing you on Saturday to celebrate his life together.”

I suppose that’s the way it should be, a celebration, a respectful celebration, and it’s a good way of looking at it.

The band in the sky just got one hell of a player to join the jam…