Matthew Thomas Growhoski

Matthew T. Growhoski, age 52, died unexpectedly on May 5, 2022 in Suffield, Connecticut.  Matthew was born in Northampton, Massachusetts on November 23, 1969,  the son of Thomas M. and Sarah J. (Barry) Growhoski. In addition to his parents, he leaves his brother, Michael Growhoski and his sister, Mary (Molly) Growhoski, both of Northampton. Matt is greatly missed by his family whose lives he always made interesting.

Matt is remembered by his colleagues as a wonderful person as well as a talented historian. Matthew's interest in history led to wide ranging travels. His life was blessed with friends from coast to coast in America, and abroad. Matt's sudden passing leaves an emptiness in the hearts of his friends and family.

A scholar, Matthew earned his Degree of Bachelor of Arts with Honors in History from Wesleyan University in 1992 and his Master of Arts Degree in History from University of California, Riverside in 2007. Matthew was granted a Doctor of Philosophy in History from Princeton University in 2015. The title of his dissertation was “The Secret History of a Secret War’: John Barclay, His Satyricon, and the Politicization of Literary Scholarship in Early Modern Europe. 1582-1621.”

Matthew concentrated his studies in early 17th Century English history conducting research in the libraries of London, Paris, Venice, Rome and the Vatican. He also held research fellowships at the Huntington Library in San Marino, California and the Folger Institute in Washington, D.C. Most recently, Matt studied at the Herzog August Library in Wolfenbüttel Germany.

From 2016 to 2018, Matthew was a postdoctoral researcher and lecturer at Vanderbilt University. He was also an adjunct lecturer at the University of California, Riverside.

His journeys, outside of educational pursuits, ranged from a trip to Poland, where he visited the shrine of the Black Madonna: Our Lady of Czestochowa, to a trip to Sydney, Australia, where he attended the 2000 Summer Olympics.

He leaves his uncles, aunts and several cousins from his mother and father’s families.

Matthew was teaching at Suffield Academy at the time of his death. He leaves many friends in Northampton, Suffield, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Riverside.

The family requests that In lieu of flowers, gifts be made in the name of Matthew T. Growhoski to the History Graduate Student Travel Award care of UC Riverside Foundation, PO Box 112, Riverside CA 92502.

To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of Matthew Thomas Growhoski, please visit our Tree Store.