wIn Remembrancew
Matthew S. Kerner, Ph.D., FACSM
It is with deep
sorrow that I inform the Mid-Atlantic Regional Chapter members
of the untimely and sudden death of our president, Matthew S.
Kerner on Saturday, March 18, 2006. He leaves behind his wife,
Patricia and two young children Jacqueline and Nicholas.
In addition, Matthew leaves behind two adult children, Rebekkah
and Etan, from a previous marriage.
A
Funeral Mass was held on Wednesday, March 22 at the Holy Name of
Mary Roman Catholic Church in Valley Stream, NY. Matthew was
interred later that day at Saint Charles Cemetery in
Farmingdale, NY.
Matt’s death has stunned the executive committee. We met in
January to plan the November 2006 meeting. Matt led that meeting
with his usual vim and vigor. Most of us were unaware that he
had been diagnosed with a slow growing tumor a few years ago
which, tragically, accelerated its growth in February. Matt was
hospitalized on March 11th and had been stable until
Thursday when his conditioned unexpectedly worsened leading to
his death on Saturday. Matt was an extremely private person and
was not, according to his wife Patricia, comfortable with the
idea of being ill. He fought a hard, brave battle against his
tumor and didn’t let his colleagues know the extent of his
illness.
Matt was an
Assistant Professor in the Department of Health Sciences at
Lehman College, part of the CUNY system. According to Patricia,
his wife, Matt continued to teach, despite the pain he was in,
right up until he was hospitalized. He felt responsible for his
students’ learning and did not want to short-change them.
Prior to his role
as President of MARC-ACSM Matt was president-elect. It was in
this capacity, serving the Mid-Atlantic Regional Chapter, that
Matt demonstrated his many talents. It was Matt’s responsibility
as president-elect to plan the November 2005 annual meeting in
Harrisburg. For those of you who attended, you already know that
it was our most successful meeting in many years, if not ever!
For those of you who have ever planned a meeting, you know how
difficult it can be. Matt did an outstanding job. Preceding his
year as president-elect Matt served two years as a
member-at-large. During this time, Matt retooled the student
awards program, establishing a protocol and rubric that improved
the objectivity of the judging. He also recruited many
professionals to help judge the students’ presentations. Thanks
to Matt’s efforts for the students we now have an exemplary
student awards program.
In addition, Matt lent his computer savvy abilities to
maintaining our website. He put innumerable hours in updating
and improving our site.
The executive
committee has recovered from its shock and is determined to
carry on Matt’s legacy. We met at the ACSM Annual meeting to
discuss the next steps to take as MARC-ACSM continues to grow.
We will recognize Matt’s efforts with a tribute to him at the
2006 MARC annual meeting in Harrisburg.
The executive
committee asks that you, in your own way, take a moment to
acknowledge Matt’s contribution to MARC-ACSM and include Matt
and his young family in your thoughts and/or prayers.
Life is so short!
I hope all of you; my friends, colleagues and people I have yet
to meet will take a minute to reflect. I, for one, will remember
Matt’s beetled brow, a big, dark mustache and imposing frown,
which was erased as his huge smile and laughter filled the room,
enjoying the fact that he “got me” with some humorous gibe. I
will miss Matthew Kerner. The MARC-ACSM meetings will not be the
same. I was fortunate to have known and worked with him. May he
rest in peace.
Craig Stevens
Executive Director
Mid-Atlantic Regional Chapter
American College of Sports Medicine
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