Matthew David Oliver, from Orinda, California, United States, passed away on March 24, 2026. He was born in Baie-D’Urfé, Quebec, Canada and lived a life filled with kindness, humor, and creativity.
Matthew grew up in a suburb of Montreal with his father who was an airline pilot and his mother who worked as a stewardess before becoming a commercial real estate agent. He shared his childhood with his beloved older sister, Kim, in Baie-D’Urfé. There he spent countless hours riding his bike around the neighborhood, playing soccer in the backyard, or enjoying long summer days at the local swim club. From a young age he showed great curiosity and energy and had a vivid imagination-especially when it came to anything that rolled. Even as a baby he made engine sounds before he could talk; as a toddler he would spend hours outside moving toy cars through the sand-sparking a lifelong passion for cars and motorcycles.
Matthew attended Crescent School in Toronto and Lycée Canadien en France before graduating from Concordia University in Montreal. After spending some time in Vancouver, British Columbia, he traveled to Northern California during the summer of 1995 for a friend’s wedding. He later told his sister it was the “best weekend of his life,” because that’s where he met Julie, who would become his wife. Matthew moved to Northern California in 1997 and they got married in May 1998. They eventually settled down in Orinda where they created their home together while raising their kids Jane and Duncan-the true joys of his life.
If you ask anyone who knew Matt what stood out about him first is his kindness. Always offering up smiles along with support and listening ears, he was cherished by many friends. Deeply committed to family and community alike, he dedicated countless hours volunteering for local schools as well as participating in community parades & car shows, golf tournaments, swim teams & baseball clubs. His daily walks around the neighborhood were filled with waves of hello’s mixed with laughter and stories shared among friends. Julie and Matt enjoyed discovering new places together during their walks and hikes.
A natural tinkerer at heart, over the years he taught himself various skills such as furniture making, fixing vintage cars, creating stop motion movies, building LED displays along with plumbing work and home repairs-all while tracking weather patterns too! He even took joy in crafting & bottling hot sauces or perfecting chili recipes alongside building mobile pitcher’s mounds or RC race tracks plus custom stilts or tree swings-much to the delight of everyone around him.
Matt was also quite talented musically-enjoying playing guitar while singing along to songs he’d written himself or simply listening to diverse music styles along with attending concerts regularly. Sharing this passion brought him closer each day to family members like Duncan who also wrote music lyrics himself too! His creative spirit extended into visual arts where special moments were spent bonding over painting projects or photography ventures alongside Jane exploring techniques together based on her insights.
Above all else though Matthew took immense pride watching how creative yet intelligent both children grew up-celebrating every little quirk that made them unique individuals within themselves!
Matthew’s journey through life radiated curiosity blended beautifully with kindness intertwined within creativity leading towards genuine connections forged throughout experiences shared alongside those who loved him deeply including family members mentioned earlier whose lives will forever hold onto these memories etched forever within hearts left behind by such an extraordinary person like Matthew!
He leaves behind his wife Julie Wood Oliver along with their children Jane Kimberly Oliver plus Duncan Matthew Oliver-as well as mother Kathleen Mac Gregor Oliver-and sister Kimberly Oliver Owen (Perry). Many devoted aunts uncles nieces nephews cousins plus brothers sisters-in-law survive him too but sadly precedes David William Alexander Oliver (father).
A Celebration of Life will take place on Sunday May 31st from 2-5pm at Moraga Country Club located nearby Moraga California USA
An additional event celebrating life is planned for Friday August 14th between 2-5PM taking place over Steam Whistle brewery situated inside Toronto Ontario Canada
We’re grateful toward numerous friends neighbors colleagues stepping forward reaching out sharing love shown toward both Matthew himself alongside supportive gestures directed towards family members-we truly appreciate all kindness shown displayed here today!
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