Michael George Matchie, Sr. died peacefully on Tuesday, July 30, 2024 at 4:00 pm in Valley City, ND. He was 88 years old.
Mike was born in St. John’s Hospital in Fargo, ND on September 11, 1936, the youngest of the four children of Timothy and Agatha (née Dewey) Matchie of Jamestown, ND. He attended St. John’s Academy in Jamestown, played basketball and football and was active in music and theatre. Mike and his brother Tom were co-captains and led the football team to state championships in 1952 and 1953. He graduated in 1953 and went on to St. John’s University, Collegeville, MN where he studied English, led the Boys’ Choir and graduated in 1957 with a degree in Education. His first job teaching English was in Rugby, ND where he was well liked by the high school students.
Not afraid of hard work, on summer breaks from college Mike worked for the Midland Continental Railroad laying and repairing track. Incredibly athletic he was not only an excellent ball player, he was a dancer. He studied dance at the Colorado Conservatory of Dance under Hanya Holm.
Michael took a position teaching English at the Boston Conservatory where he met Patricia Yorke on the dance floor. They were married in 1959. While there he achieved the pinnacle of any performer’s life when he performed at Carnegie Hall with the Hungarian Dance Company and received a standing ovation! In 1960, they welcomed a baby girl into their new family, Deirdre Marie.
They moved to Connecticut where Michael worked in East Hampton as a high school English Teacher, and welcomed their second child, Michael George. Patricia started teaching dance. The dance school was so successful that Michael and Patricia founded the Matchie Studios of Dance and Drama and Central Connecticut Ballet Company. Michael was loved by the students and choreographed many performances to show their individual strengths as dancers.
He is remembered at the school for his photo-shoot days where he showcased his photography skills of the dancers. His daughter remembers time spent in the home-made darkroom where he taught her to develop pictures. He will be remembered above all for his love for teaching, no matter the form: the classroom, the dance studio, or the darkroom.
After his first marriage, Mike continued teaching at a new business he acquired, Duke Antone’s World-Renowned School of Mixology in Hartford, CT, which he ran for many years. It was here he met his second wife Janet. Together they moved to Ft. Myers Beach, FL for a time before returning home to Jamestown where he retired and worked part time at County Market.
Mike was always known for his ability to tell a joke, (especially puns) and wrote poetry, plays and music. He regaled his nieces, nephew and friends with his dramatic performances and thrilled them with his talent. Fond memories include standing around the piano with him playing and one or more family members singing and playing violin or guitar. Such joy!
In addition to his children he is survived by his granddaughter, McKenna Keys, his brother, Thomas (Michelle) Matchie, nieces and nephew, Kathleen (Vic) Birthler, Timothy Keyes, Theresa Keyes, Patricia (Jay Loerch) Keyes, Mary Anne (Bruce) Lach, Laura (Ed Peterson) Morrison, Elizabeth Keyes (Jerry Doose), Pam (Mark Thiede) Matchie-Thiede, cousins, great nieces and nephews, and long time friends.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Agatha and Timothy Matchie, Patricia Yorke Matchie Field, Janet Matchie, his brother Jim Matchie, his sister Mary Pat Keyes, and his sister-in-law Dolores Matchie.
A graveside service will be held at Calvary Cemetery on Friday August 9th at 11am. All are welcome.
Eddy Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.