Garfield ''Gary'' B. Matej

GARFIELD “GARY” B. MATEJ, age 64, of Churchville, MD died in Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, Baltimore, MD on July 19, 2005. Born in McKeesport, Pennsylvania, he was the son of the late Garfield Bohumil, Sr. and Gizella Polahar Matej.

Mr. Matej taught in the Harford County Public School System from 1962 until his retirement in 1994. Throughout his teaching career, he also held various positions as a football coach. Mr. Matej was the Assistant Coach at Edgewood High School in the late 1960’s. He then moved on as Head Coach at North Harford High School from 1970 – 1980. He finished up his coaching career as the Assistant Coach for two years at Harford Community College in the early 1980’s.

Mr. Matej gained his experience in football at West Virginia Wesleyan College. He was inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame as a member of the 1961 West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Association Championship team. He then went on to receive his Master’s Degree in Education from Johns Hopkins University.
Most recently, Mr. Matej was the owner of Break Time Vending and was a member of St. Matthew Lutheran Church.

Mr. Matej is survived by his wife Jean Sampson Matej; a son, Russell S. Matej of Bel Air, MD; a daughter, Jody R. Whitten and her husband, Ralph, of Bel Air, MD; step-children, Brian Rumbley of Bel Air, MD and Dawn Rumbley of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; a sister, Lydia Yates and her husband, Edwin, of Liberty Boro, Pennsylvania; two grandsons, Kyle and David Whitten, both of Bel Air, MD; and a nephew, Neil Yates and his wife, Amy, of Pittsburg, PA.

Pallbearers will be: Ralph Whitten, Kyle Whitten, David Whitten, Edwin Yates, Brian Rumbley, and Dick Walker.