Alesia and I flew to the D.C. area early last November, not to sightsee but for a sad family gathering.
My older brother Matt passed away on Oct. 14, 2025 at age 66 after a two-to-three-year battle with stage four prostate cancer. See his obituary.
We, along with many family members, attended his Requiem Mass on Nov. 7 at the beautiful Basilica of St. Mary on Royal Street in Alexandria.
Matt was a good brother to me and it is still difficult to fathom that he is gone. Our big Catholic family of nine is now down to six. We lost our father, Michael, last February. I wrote about the sad but lovely family gathering in Estes Park, Colorado., where we bid a tearful farewell to Dear Dad. My youngest brother Tom left us in 2018. I posted about Tom’s passing in Alabama.
The Basilica of St. Mary was founded in 1795. It was the first Catholic parish in Virginia. George Washington himself helped fund the church, donating the equivalent of $1,200. The church was located in a different part of Alexandria at that time. It moved to Royal Street in 1810.
Matt was a good brother to me and it is still difficult to fathom that he is gone. Our big Catholic family of nine is now down to six. We lost our father, Michael, last February. I wrote about the sad but lovely family gathering in Estes Park, Colorado., where we bid a tearful farewell to Dear Dad. My youngest brother Tom left us in 2018. I posted about Tom’s passing in Alabama.
I knew my tribute to Matt on this site was coming. The busy Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s holidays, plus finishing up the fall semester at SC State occupied my time. Plus, I just procrastinated.
Matthew David Harwood was such a good and kind man. He lived his life by his own code and rules. He worked hard at his craft, which was art, and was very successful and accomplished at it.
