Stephen Anson Matthews

Stephen Matthews passed away peacefully on September 10, 2023, while in hospice care at the Starlight House in Albuquerque, NM. 

Born in Boise, Idaho, March 25, 1938. Stephen leaves behind his loving wife, Janice M. Stubbs of 62 years; daughters, Sara and Pam; his adoring sister, Susan Wingfield; sister-in-law, Nancy Rasmussen; and dear nieces and nephews, Sam Matthews and wife, Dawn; Tom Matthews and wife, Kate; Coral Rasmussen; Joel Rasmussen and wife, Sarah; Brian Rasmussen; Gael Meraud; Cameron Robb, and Morgan Wingfield. Preceding him in death are his parents Dale Sr. and Coral Matthews, and his brothers, Dale Jr. and Dan.

The Matthews' family history includes 11 generations of Scottish/Irish/English immi-grants. His ancestors fought in the American Revolution, the Civil War and were famous for traveling and settling on the Oregon Trail. Stephen's grandfather, Tom Jennings, is wellknown in Idaho history for the family greenhouses on upper Warm Springs Avenue in Boise that provided fresh vegetables year round during the turn of the 19th century. 

Stephen's childhood years included many moves with his mining family to several western states. In 1953 the family moved to the Anaconda mining camp near Grants, New Mexico. Stephen graduated from Grants Union High School in 1956 with valedictorian honors. He earned 13 letters in five varsity sports and attended Oregon State for a year on an academic and football scholarship. He made his way back home to New Mexico where he graduated in chemical engineering from the University of New Mexico, and where he met his wife Janice from Dallas at a fraternity party.
 
Stephen's successful engineering career and investing persistence allowed Stephen and Janice to establish charity, benevolence and research foundations. The Cibola County Education Foundation was established in 1992 to award scholarships to Grants and Laguna Acoma High School students, native American students and high school faculty. 

Stephen and Jan continued their practice of strategic philanthropy after Stephen retired from Setpoint Inc., a company he founded. His engineering and entrepreneurial success allowed the couple to travel and live internationally. When Stephen and Jan resettled in Albuquerque in 2000, Stephen rekindled a relationship with the UNM School of Engineering, later funding an endowment to provide equipment and support for a variety of engineering initiatives. Stephen received the Distinguished Alumni Award from the UNM College of Engineering in 2002.

Stephen and Jan are cancer survivors. In 2006, they established The Janice S.
Matthews Cancer Research Venture Endowment to accelerate UNM Comprehensive Cancer Center research.

Stephen supported his children and extended family in their academic and professional pursuits. His dedication to educa-tion and scholarship brought him great joy and enduring friendships. 

Stephen's lifelong love of hiking and arrowhead hunting began as a youth with his brothers.

In retirement, he loved hiking and sharing his love of hiking with friends and family. Stephen climbed all the peaks in the area and could be found almost daily walking his favorite trails in the Sandia foot-hills. 

Stephen will be missed for his exemplary character, effortless smile, and easy laughter at life's challenges. Our family is especially thankful for caregivers from the Starlight House, companion care from Right at Home and frequent visits from nephew and wife, Tom and Kate, and their daughter, Sophie.

Funeral services were held at Coronado Villas on September 23, 2023, by Pastor Jesse Dompreh of St Stephen's United Methodist Church where Jan and Stephen were active members.

Stephen touched many lives around the world. May he rest in peace.