Matthew Lynn

Matthew Collins Lynn passed away peacefully at home in Lafayette, CA Sunday morning, December 13th after a 4 1/2 year valiant battle against brain cancer. He was born July 8, 1981 to Carole Kay and Jack Lynn of Lafayette. Matthew, a 1999 graduate of Acalanes High School, played water polo and was a High School All American. He also was a varsity swimmer and played high school lacrosse. In 2004 he earned a Bachelor of Arts in history from the University of California Santa Barbara. From 2000-2004 he played for the UCSB lacrosse team and was a member of the 2004 Men?s National Championship team. Matthew, who loved to travel, spent the summer of 2003 at a UC Davis program in Florence, Italy and enjoyed numerous European trips with friends and family. Additionally, he treasured many family vacations on Kauai, HI and at their vacation home in Truckee, CA. He also loved spending time surfing, snowboarding, hiking and fly fishing. Most recently, Matthew worked as a consultant at Edgar Dunn and Company, a management consulting firm in San Francisco. He also served as an assistant coach for the Acalanes High School boys? junior varsity and varsity lacrosse teams. Matthew will be remembered by friends and family for his infectious smile and as someone who demonstrated to others how to live life to the fullest while facing the uncertainty of his own. He did so with grace, dignity, courage and good humor. He was known as someone with fierce loyalty and connection to his family and close friends, and was admired for his strength, determination, bravery, zest, curiosity, and strong values. He was a loving son, adoring brother, proud uncle, loyal friend, committed co-worker and caring coach; he was a vital and compassionate man. In addition to his parents, Matthew is survived by his sister Erin Lynn Beaver, her husband Chris Beaver, nephew Jack Matthew Beaver, niece Kate Elizabeth Beaver, sister Megan Collins Lynn, and uncle and aunt, Dennis and Martha Collins and their family of DeKalb, Illinois. A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, January 9th, at the Diablo Country Club in Danville, CA beginning at 2:00 in the afternoon. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests gifts be made to a fund established at the East Bay Community Foundation in Matt?s memory which will benefit students at Acalanes High School. Donations should be made payable to East Bay Community Foundation and should be accompanied by a note designating that the gift is for the Acalanes High School ? Matt Lynn Memorial Fund. Contributions can be mailed to the East Bay Community Foundation, 200 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, Oakland, CA 94612. Donations can also be made to the National Brain Tumor Society or a charity of the donor?s choice.