Obituary of Matthew Michael McPartland

Matt passed away at his home on February 5, 2014 with his wife Patsy by his side. Matt was born in Oakland, lived in Kensington, and moved to Ben Lomond in the mid-1960s when his parents bought 'The Big House' on Hillside Avenue. He worked with his father in their business, J & M Alarm Company, after which he became self-employed in construction for the past 35 years. Matt designed, built and remodeled several homes throughout the San Lorenzo Valley. He remodeled and restored the Mermaid Room and indoor swimming pool at the Brookdale Lodge. Matt became involved with Camp Krem-Camping Unlimited in Boulder Creek in the early 1970s, where he met many special people and maintained lifelong friendships with the directors, counselors, and caretakers who worked there. Matt helped build the camp swimming pool and worked on several other projects at the camp over the years. In their free time, Matt and Patsy enjoyed camping and spending their vacations in Lake Tahoe, Yosemite, Calistoga and the Sierras. Matt is survived by Patsy, his loving wife of 35 years, special friends Graham and Tamar Dittman, and Craig "Boogie" and Paula Cunningham, brother John McPartland and wife Deborah, sisters Terry Kennedy, Coleen Tucker, and Mary Ann McPartland, sister-in-law Norma Horn, and brother-in-law Bert Ratcliff, along with many nieces, nephews and cousins. Matt was preceded in death by his parents, John and Phyllis, and siblings Denny, Kathy, Tom, Peggy and Patrick. The family would like to give special thanks to Dr. Michael Yen and his office staff, and Hospice of Santa Cruz County for their kindness and sincere caring during Matt's illness. A celebration of Matt's life will be held at Santa Cruz Memorial- Oakwood Chapel, 3301 Paul Sweet Road, Santa Cruz 95065 at 11:00am on Saturday, February 22. In lieu of flowers, remembrances can be made in Matt's memory to Hospice of Santa Cruz County, 940 Disc Drive, Scotts Valley, 95066, or to Camp Krem-Camping Unlimited, 102 Brook Lane, Boulder Creek 95006.