The last time I saw Matt, he was with his bride Shanna Loede, and they were at a Friday ROCK N BLAST at Progressive Field. I was in the flagships radio booth along with Bally Sports Al Pawlowski and Jensen Lewis. This was Shanna’s first ROCK N BLAST and Matt was a like a little kid at Christmas, not just for sharing the evening with the love of his life but in a similar manner to the Warren Zevon saying “Enjoy every sandwich.”
Part of me and it truly chewed away at my heart plus soul wondered if this would be the last time Matt would enjoy his beloved baseball team especially with his wife. Al and JLew lit up when Matt and Shanna were in the booth with us and a few months later, on this day in 2021, Matt lost his 2-year battle with cancer. Who was Matt?
As Shanna noted he was “funny, sweet, generous, loyal, faith filled, and he had a talent for bringing people together.” Matt also was a GENTLEMAN, a kind man and giving of himself when there was not much left to give. As Zack Meisel from The Athletic noted “If you knew Matt Loede your life was better was better off for it.”
I first met Matt in 1999 when the Browns came back to town. I was doing a pregame show on Majic 105.7 – Cleveland along with Jimmy Malone from the Chop House on St. Clair and Matt stopped by. I was not sure who he was with at the time but when I was introduced, I was aware of his work on local radio and enjoyed him. We asked Matt to join us and unhesitatingly he said YES (Like he always did!). Matt came back to just about every show and we treasured having the young fellow on the air with his love of life and good football takes.
As the years went on, I made sure to include Matt on shows I was doing with others and solo. He rarely said, “I can’t make it.” In fact when I moved to mornings on Fox Sports 1350 (6a-9a) Matt was always ready to answer the bell. Even when he was in his battle with Stage 4 stomach, kidney, and pancreatic cancer he made sure to find time and he even apologized when he could not make it. THAT WAS MATT LOEDE. When I had my open-heart surgery, this man checked on me and we joked that we went back and forth checking on each other.
Matt was special and with all the high-powered media types in the press box (some “self-proclaimed) Matt was always holding court. A Jamaican greeting I use #MannersandRespect truly pertained to Matt as he personified manners and respect, and in turn had the respect of so many.
What more can I say to talk about truly a gift from above that was in the persona of Matt Loede. Matt is always in my heart and soul. As I light a candle in his memory and strength for myself to show #MannerandRespect there is no doubt in my mind that Matt was put on this planet to make it a better place. He went directly to Heaven and no doubt was greeted by the ALMGHTY with the words “with You I AM WELL PLEASED.”
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