Matthew Steven Barker

Matthew “Mat” Steven Barker passed away peacefully in his sleep on June 10, 2008. Mat was born at Verdugo Hills Hospital on Sept. 30, 1987. He attended local Montessori schools for his elementary years, and then enrolled at La Cañada High School where he was a member of the 7/8 band, the marching band, and played water polo.

Mat was in Cub Scouts, Pack 512, and earned the Order of the Arrow, the highest award a Cub Scout can earn. Mat graduated from La Cañada High School in 2006 and was currently a student at Pasadena City College.

Mat recently went on the popular PCC archaeology field trip over spring break and toured various sites with his classmates in New Mexico and Arizona. He was happiest when exploring and traveling in natural areas, and was considering joining the Peace Corps.

Music was always a major part of Mat’s life. He began classical piano — at his insistence — at age 7, then took up the French horn at the request of band director Susan Hamre, who told him he had perfect pitch.

Mat later took up the electric bass so he could jam with his friends and play the music he loved. Later he was involved in concert production and assisted his dad, a world-recognized audio engineer, in various live concerts and recordings. He was always exploring new bands and music and was never without some kind of music playing in the background.

A memorial service was held on Saturday, June 14 at Fellowship Hall of the Church of the Lighted Window. Mat’s aunt, the Rev. Elizabeth (Barker) Evans, officiated at the service. The standing room only gathering gave heartfelt spoken as well as silent testimony to how Mat’s kind and generous spirit touched many lives in our community.

Mat’s cousin Katherine Markgraf and her husband Phil, read the poem “I thank you God for most this amazing day,” by E.E. Cummings. In keeping with Mat’s passion for music, various favorite songs were played, and the lyrics were distributed so the audience could join in. The music included songs by Bob Marley, Rancid, Flogging Molly and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. The regular service was followed by a candlelight vigil in a wooded area near Eaton Canyon where Mat loved to go sit and look at the stars.

Mat is survived by his mother, Marilyn Smith, and his sister Abigail. Mat was the much loved nephew of Pat Anderson, CEO of the La Cañada Flintridge Chamber of Commerce. Tragically, Mat was preceded in death by his father, Steven Barker (the “voice” of the California Philharmonic summer concerts at the Arboretum) only 11 months earlier. He was also preceded in death by his beloved Uncle Philip Anderson, retired minister of the Church of the Lighted Window.