Matthew William Beard - Online Memorial Website
Memorial Website - Matthew William Beard
He has achieved success
who has lived well,
laughed often, and loved much;
who has enjoyed the trust of
pure women,
the respect of intelligent men and
the love of little children;
who has filled his niche and accomplished his task;
who has left the world better than he found it
whether by an improved poppy,
a perfect poem or a rescued soul;
who has never lacked appreciation of Earth's beauty
or failed to express it;
who has always looked for the best in others and
given them the best he had;
whose life was an inspiration;
whose memory a benediction.
--1904 Bessie Anderson Stanley
Candlelight Vigil held for Matthew at Florida State University by his friends and the Southern Scholarship Foundation on January 20, 2007, a few weeks after Matt died, and what would have been his 22nd birthday. Many spoke about Matt, sharing memories and stories, including friends, professors and FSU President T.K. Wetherell. A screen showed photos of Matthew and a few songs were sung in his memory. It was a cold and windy night for Florida but many turned out to remember their friend.
FSU Police Department and police saturation force DUI Checkpoint held in honor and memory of Matt on January 30, 2007.
Curtis Schroeger was Matt's roommate for three years at the Rotary Scholarship House at FSU. They were not only roommates but became very good friends. They would go surfing together, worked out together. Curtis was a Music & Theatre major and graduated the semester before Matt was killed. He now dedicates all of his shows in memory of Matthew. I know Matt is so very proud of Curtis.
President of Florida State University, Dr T.K. Wetherell, speaks to a crowd of more than 15,000 about Matthew's accomplishments, his exciting research discovery during his internship at NOAA, at his college graduation April 27th, 2007 at the Civic Center in Tallahassee. Matt graduated posthumously with a degree in biology and a certificate in marine biology. He graduated Magna Cum Laude with honors in his major. Matthew is now a marine biologist.
Memorial plaque from the SCUBA club at FSU with Matt's name and dates. They placed it in the ocean around West Palm Beach 140 ft down in a shipwreck, a place where only serious divers would go so it would not be disturbed. They took the plaque near where Matt would have went diving with his friends had the drunk driver not taken his life instead.
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This is Major Jim Russell, the Asst Chief of Police at FSU. Jim is a very dear friend of mine and is extremely passionate with working against DUI. He worked extremely hard in putting this event together and did a wonderful job. He is an avid cyclist and got out there himself and rode many miles -- as he has done on many occasions to bring awareness to this crime.
Chief David Perry, the Chief of Police at Florida State. An amazing and compassionate man who works so hard to keep our children safe, our roads safe, who cares deeply.
I told Matt's story, who Matt was -- who Matt is -- his goals, his dreams, his accomplishments, his passion for life, his dedication to everything he did. I spoke to the students about that awful night, the night I got "the phone call". The week that followed while Matt was on life support. I let them know what it is like to lose your child. Tried to make them understand as best I could, let them know that they don't want their parents to be in my shoes nor do they want to be the cause of another student's parents to be in my shoes. The could make responsible choices. If even one student chooses not to ever drink and drive again after hearing Matthew's story and how another person's selfish and criminal act ended his life way too soon and created a never ending nightmare for me then that makes a huge difference.
Ashley and Gabrielle, two of the members of Team 4Matt -- with scuba gear decorating their helmet!
Marissa and Lisa - two really sweet girls
Ashley, LeVar and Gabrielle from Team 4Matt receiving their medals
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Rita -- she rode all night long and was one of two participants that won a new bike!
Standing with Maj Jim Russell in front of Matt's picture
The Florida State University Office of Residence Life and the FSU Police Department hosted Alcohol Awareness Week from November 3 - 8, 2008. I spoke at the event along with an FSU student who had drove drunk and now has a DUI and speaks to students and the mother of a young man who drove drunk and killed two girls in Tallahassee and is now in prison.
Matt's friend Tarah writing to Matt on the Memory Wall that was dedicated to all of those lost to the selfish and criminal act of drunk drivers.
Matt's Angel Pin ~ I had this pin custom made in Matt's memory and honor. A woman named Rosemary makes these beautiful angels, you just tell her what you want and she works with you until it is just right. Until it encompasses the person you love. This angel pin has wings that represent the ocean waves, a starfish and a shell to show Matt's love for the ocean, for the reefs, and of course, a surfer. The angel has a heart with Matt's name engraved on it and his January birthstone, a garnet. Many of the women in Matt's family and Matt's friends have chosen to wear this pin for Matthew and it means so much to me.
Rosemary's Angel Pins can be located at:
http://www.designsbyrosemary.com/
Memorial to be held for FSU student killed by drunk driver
Vigil to honor Matthew Beard on Jan. 20
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SSF: Today
February 2007In Loving Memory
http://www.southernscholarship.org/pdf/newsletter26.pdf
A Legacy for Matthew Beard
by Diana Purutcuoglu
Posted 2007-06-28
| Victims Remembered at DUI Zero Tolerance event (August 22, 2007) |
Matthew Beard honored on anniversary of his tragic death
by Sandi Rauch
Posted 2008-02-21
http://www.lakemarylifemagazine.com/viewArticle.php?articleId=1075
Cyclists ride day and night to stop DUI
By Gail Stansberry-Ziffer • SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE • March 26, 2008
<http://tallahassee.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080326/CHRONICLE06/803260316/-1/CHRONICLE>
Matthew Beard Memorial Ride To The Sea ~ WCTV News Video
March 21, 2009, Tallahassee, FL; FSUPD
<http://video.aol.com/video-detail/memorial-ride-to-the-sea/278888502>
DUI Zero Tolerance Event on August 22, 2007 in Boca Raton held by the Dori Slosberg Foundation. Families of DUI victims, law enforcement and politicians all came together in an effort to bring awareness to DUI. A DUI Saturation Patrol took place immediately following the event. This is the first time I spoke publicly, that I told Matt's story. And that I had the opportunity to thank our law enforcement for what they do. I will continue to do both, to keep Matt's memory alive, to share his story, to keep his voice out there, and to always honor our law enforcement whenever I am given the opportunity. Hopefully someone will listen and will chose not to do what the drunk driver chose to do to my son.
**press pause on the left side of the screen to stop the music before starting the video**
Matthew is patient, Matthew is kind,
He does not envy, he does not boast,
He is not proud, he is not rude,
He is not self-seeking,
He is not easily angered,
He keeps no record of wrongs.
Matt does not delight in evil,
but rejoices with the truth.
Matt always protects, always trusts,
always hopes, always perseveres.
Matthew bears all things, believes all things,
hopes all things, endures all things.
Matthew never ends.
Matthew N e v e r F a i l s.
Corinthians 13 : 4 - 8