In Memoriam: Matthew Daniel Simek (March 5, 1953 - July 19, 2026)

Matthew Daniel Simek, of Gig Harbor, Washington, died on July 19, 2026, from complications of lymphoma at the age of 73, surrounded by the love of his daughters.

Matthew was born on March 5, 1953, in Richland, Washington, to John and Ruby Simek. He attended Christ the King Catholic School in Richland before continuing his education at St. Peter the Apostle Seminary in Cowiche, Washington, where he discerned a calling to the priesthood. After his first year, St. Peter’s closed, and he transferred to Mater Cleri Seminary in Colbert, Washington.

After graduating from Mater Cleri, Matthew attended Washington State University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in English. During his time there, he played guitar and sang in the choir at St. Thomas More Catholic Church, where he met the love of his life, Teresa. They were married in the Mater Cleri Seminary chapel. Although Matthew ultimately chose a different path from the priesthood, his deep Catholic faith remained a guiding force throughout his life.

Following his 1975 graduation from WSU, Matthew and Teresa moved to St. Louis, Missouri, where he earned a master’s degree in social work from St. Louis University in 1977. Their first two children, Mark and Sarah, were born there. When Mark was two years old, he was diagnosed with leukemia, and the family returned to Washington so he could receive treatment at Seattle Children’s Hospital. Tragically, Mark died from his illness in 1978. Though Mark’s death remained a lifelong sorrow, Matthew carried his son’s memory with him always.

Matthew and Teresa later welcomed two more daughters, Erica and Jennifer, and settled in Tacoma before eventually making their home in Gig Harbor.

In 2004, Teresa was diagnosed with brain cancer and died in 2006, leaving Matthew to navigate the next two decades without her. Shortly before his own death, he described himself as “a brave widow of 20 years,” reflecting both his enduring love for Teresa and the strength with which he carried his grief. Beyond his loss, he embraced the responsibilities Teresa could no longer share, remaining a steadfast source of love, guidance, and support for his daughters and family.

Matthew devoted his professional life to serving others. He began his career at Children’s Home Society of Washington and later at Child Guidance Clinic of Tacoma. In these settings, he developed his skills as a family therapist recognizing the importance of the relationship between parents and their children. The majority of his career (over 30 years) was spent at Group Health Cooperative/Kaiser Permanente of Washington. He initially worked in Bremerton as a therapist where he served a wide variety of clients. Here he further developed his expertise in integrating compassion and caring along with effective strategies to help those facing significant emotional difficulties. His most lasting achievement was when he was selected to implement a well being program for the Group Health/Kaiser medical staff. He ran this program by himself being available to medical staff 7 days a week 24 hours a day. It was in this role that he was able to fully use his warmth, genuineness, caring, and compassion as well as his personal/family history to help healthcare providers who were facing a wide array of emotional challenges. This program is a statement to his legacy as a person and as a mental health professional.

His spirit of service extended far beyond his professional work. Music was one of the great joys of his life. For many years, he directed the 5 p.m. choir at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, sharing his love of music and helping lead the congregation in worship. After retirement, he continued serving others through the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, accompanying individuals and families facing hardship with the same humility and compassion that defined his life. He also volunteered with hospice, offering comfort, presence, and companionship to people and their loved ones during some of life's most difficult moments. For two decades after Teresa's death, Matthew faithfully stewarded Teresa's Fund, the endowment he and Teresa established through the Mary Bridge Children's Foundation. He sustained the fund through his ongoing generosity, organized several campaigns to help it grow, and thoughtfully directed its support to children and families facing serious health challenges, ensuring Teresa's legacy of compassion lived on.

Above all, Matthew’s greatest joy was being a father. He shared that raising his daughters was his greatest joy, a reflection of the love and devotion that guided his life. He embraced fatherhood with deep care, cherishing the years he spent guiding, supporting, and loving his daughters. Later in life, he found great happiness in being a grandfather, treasuring time with his grandchildren and the moments they shared together.

Matthew was, and forever shall be, a faith-filled man who found joy in God’s gifts of family, friendship, music, and creation. A guitar was never far from his reach, and music remained a constant companion throughout his life. He loved listening to all genres of music, often falling asleep at night with music playing nearby, sometimes at a volume his daughters would lovingly describe as a little too loud. He had a lifelong curiosity about the world and loved reading books on a wide variety of topics. He also found joy in tending to his garden and house projects, following the Seattle Mariners and WSU Cougar football, hiking and backpacking throughout the Pacific Northwest, and capturing the beauty of nature through his camera lens.

He never shied away from life’s difficult questions or from walking with others through suffering. Instead, he met those moments with faith, hope, compassion, and courage. He had a remarkable gift for listening without judgment, and people naturally sought him out for advice, comfort, and perspective. He touched so many people with his gentle spirit, thoughtful wisdom, playful humor, and genuine kindness. Even in his final hours, he was still making those around him laugh.

Matthew is survived by his daughters, Sarah (husband John), Erica (husband Benjamin), and Jennifer (husband David); his beloved grandchildren, Luke, Oliver, and Thomas; his brother, Michael (wife Kathy); his sister, Christine (husband Greg); and many loving in-laws, nieces, and nephews. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Teresa; his son, Mark; his parents, John and Ruby Simek; and his brother, Raymond.

A funeral mass will be celebrated on Friday, August 14, at 11 a.m. at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Tacoma, Washington. Inurnment at Holyrood Cemetery will take place at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions may be made to Mary Bridge Children’s Foundation, Teresa’s Fund, P.O. Box 5296, Tacoma, WA 98415-0296 or on the Mary Bridge Foundation’s website.

Please leave online condolences at www.gaffneyfuneralhome.com. Arrangements by Gaffney Funeral Home.

Matthew will be sorely missed and forever loved by his family, friends, colleagues, parish community, and all whose lives he touched. Though we know we will carry the grief of missing him throughout our lives, we also carry the words that brought him peace in his final days:
“All is well. All will be well.”