Matthew James May

Matthew “Matt” MayDecember 15, 1986 – September 17, 2026

Matthew “Matt” May was born on December 15, 1986, in Evanston, Wyoming, to Shannon and Jim May. One of six siblings, Matt grew up alongside Jody, Chad, Casey, Sean, and Jake. Shortly after his birth, his family moved to Ventura County, where he grew up in Navy housing in Camarillo and attended local schools before attending Rio Mesa High School.

From an early age, Matt loved sports. He grew up playing Little League baseball and basketball, and had an incredible knowledge of sports, teams, players, and statistics. While he loved many sports, baseball was the one that stayed with him throughout his life. He was also an avid Chicago Cubs fan.

Matt eventually turned his love of baseball into an opportunity to give back to the community he loved. For 11 years, he coached baseball at Rio Mesa High School, where he became much more than a coach to countless young athletes.

Matt believed coaching was about more than what happened on the field. He worked to instill character, discipline, perseverance, accountability, respect, confidence, and teamwork in his players. He had a gift for seeing potential in young people and helping them see it in themselves. The lessons he taught extended far beyond baseball and will continue to be carried by the many young people whose lives he helped shape.

He was humble, genuine, and one of the most authentic people you could ever meet. Matt never needed recognition for the things he did. He simply cared about people, and he had a way of leaving a lasting impression on nearly everyone whose path crossed his.

The greatest part of Matt’s life, however, was his family.

Matt met Nichole while they were both working at Wood Ranchin 2017, beginning a relationship that grew into a life built together. They were each other’s rock and foundation through every aspect of life. The love and understanding they had for each other was unmeasurable.

On September 16, 2023, Matt and Nichole welcomed their son, Jordan, who became the light of Matt’s life.

Matt absolutely loved being a dad. Nichole and Jordan were his world and the center of everything that mattered most to him. He could hardly wait for the day he would officially coach his son, and some of their most treasured moments were already being spent together on the baseball field, where Matt was teaching Jordan to catch and throw and sharing with him the game he had loved since childhood.

Matt was a fighter throughout his life. He faced challenges with strength, courage, and determination, and even through his own battles, he continued to show up for the people around him.

Matt’s life cannot be measured simply by the number of years he was here, but by the extraordinary number of lives he touched. His legacy lives in his family, his lifelong friendships, the players he coached, the children he encouraged, and the community to which he gave so much of himself.

Most importantly, his legacy lives on in Nichole and Jordan.

Matt’s time here was far too short, but his impact will last for generations. He will be forever loved, forever remembered, and forever a part of the countless lives he touched.