Matthew Forelli

We Mourn the Loss of Matthew Forelli

In the early hours of May 9 Matthew Forelli, a longtime Westport resident, succumbed to

a series of physical problems that had plagued him for nearly 4 years. At the time of his

death Matt was at his Ocean Reef Club home in Key Largo FL, where he and his wife

Martha have spent every winter since their marriage in 1993.

No one who knew Matt will ever forget him. He was a complicated and unique man,

who approached everything he did with limitless energy and enthusiasm. He was a truly

loveable curmudgeon.

Matt was the eldest son of Matthew and Jane Forelli, he grew up in Old Greenwich, CT

where he attended the Brunswick School. In 1960 after graduating from St. Lawrence

University, Matt married his first wife Sharon Briggs, fathered two sons Briggs and Peter,

moved to CT and joined his father’s company Precision Gear Inc. Later he became

President, then Chairman and under his leadership PGI became a leading parts

manufacturer in the commercial and defense aerospace market place.

Matt was a sportsman. He loved both freshwater and saltwater fishing, hunting

waterfowl on L.I.S. and upland birds in New Brunswick, camping by a stream, car racing

and playing golf with friends and family.

He expected his two sons Briggs and Peter to share his passions. Briggs recalls that

when the Bluefish were running his dad woke him and his brother so they could fish

before catching the bus to school. “There was one time,” said Briggs, “when Peter and I

were sent home from school for smelling like fish. Imagine that.” And when Matt took up

golf in 1985 he announced – “Boys we golf now.” And off they went to the Stratton Golf

School and then back home to CGC. For Matthew Forelli there were no halfway

measures, you knew where you stood with him.

For many summers (80’s and 90’s) Matt spent July and much of August fly fishing in

Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming. With his friend Bob D’Ambruoso he bought “Headwaters

Angling”, a fly fishing and guide shop in Ennis, MT. Another Forelli entrepreneurial

venture was a popular Steakhouse/Bar in Darien, CT called “Lock Stock & Barrel.”

Frequently he would come home from the PGI factory in Queens, shower and head out to

the restaurant to monitor operations.

Of all Matt’s good qualities, and he had many, the most important was his unquestioned generosity. Matt supported innumerable charities. To name just a few: Bonefish & Tarpon Trust, Americares, Brigham & Women’s Hospital, Kids in Crisis, the Ocean Reef Foundation, and his alma mater St. Lawrence University, where there is a Forelli Family Scholarship.

Mathew’s generosity extended to his multitude of friends– from prep school, college,

fishing, hunting, golf, Ocean Reef, and CT. And they weren’t just acquaintances. They

were good, loyal buddies. And he was there for them. Whatever they needed– money,

advice, a place to stay, a shoulder to cry on.

Fellow residents of Key Largo’s Ocean Reef Club often pondered the significance of

“20 SUMMERS” which appeared on the license plate on the back of Matt’s golf cart.

One of nine fraternity brothers that Matt spoke to on a regular basis, remembers that the

slogan was born at the funeral of an Alfa Tau Omega brother. “We concluded that we had

about 20 quality summers left before we were going to be too old to enjoy it.” Matt

barely made it.

In addition to his wife Martha, Matt is survived by his sister Margaret Urciuoli; brother

Billy; son Briggs and wife Jennifer, their children Matthew and Meg; son Peter and wife

Michaela, their boys Briggs, Beau and Brodie; his former wife Sharon; Martha’s two

daughters Brook Lewis & Diana Cuyler and her four grandchildren Hannah, Harper, Lily

and Elias.

Memorial Service to be held:

Thursday, June 25th at 10:30 am

First Congregational Church of Greenwich

108 Sound Beach Ave

Old Greenwich, CT  06870