Matthew A. DeVerdi, age 73, beloved brother, brother-in-law, uncle, cousin and friend, passed away peacefully January 1, 2026 surrounded by a loving family. Matthew, the third oldest child of Matthew and Margaret (Mezzano) DeVerdi, was born in Worcester, Massachusetts, lived in California for over forty years, and resided for the past twenty years in Woodside, California.


Matt graduated from Burncoat High School in Worcester, attended UMASS Amherst, and graduated from college at Cal State University East Bay. He was a lifelong learner and his greatest passion was sharing enthusiastically all he knew, most especially with his students over a long teaching career at Redwood High School in Castro Valley, California.
He loved his students very much and often told his family stories of the wonderful connections he made with the staff, students and parents that truly touched his heart and his life. Matthew devised the first ever online educational program (pre-Covid) that is now used nationwide. When he retired, the school named the building he taught in after Matthew, to honor the impact he had made over his twenty-six-year career. He also taught as an adjunct professor for twenty years at Chabot College. He appreciated his adult learners and spoke of evolving as a teacher there in a new way.
Matthew was a man of many interests. He enjoyed reading, politics, culture, opera, traveling- especially to Italy- and loved to camp in the desert solo. Matt was proud to have visited and hiked all of the national parks. He had a lifelong fascination with weather patterns, geographic faults, animals, redwood trees, and campy movies like Monty Python and Hairspray. He had an unfailing, subversive sense of humor. Matthew recounted many colorful stories of traveling the world with both family and beloved partners. He remembered and spoke of those times with immense warmth and gratitude.
His other great love was living on King's Mountain in Woodside. He called it a 'magical, peaceful place' and once he settled there, couldn't imagine ever leaving.
Matthew liked to support his nieces at soccer and volleyball games, and nephew that played music in the Bay Area music scene. Matthew will be missed by all of us. He loved his family and friends, and took great pains to forge truly meaningful relationships with all those close to him. His integrity, capacity for patience, and strong, unwavering love will be cherished by all of us who were graced to know him.
Matthew is survived by his three siblings Cassandra (DeVerdi) McGrath of Holden, MA, Beverly (DeVerdi) Aijala of Apollo Beach, FL and Brewster, MA and Gina (DeVerdi) Wasgatt of Holden, MA, brothers-in-law Robert Aijala and John (Jack) Wasgatt, and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Funeral services will be private. The family would appreciate donations be made to The American Cancer Society or the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District at Openspace.org .