![[Image]](http://www.sirunning.com/images/pict19.jpg)
The Staten Island Runner
sirunning.com
|
|
|
|---|
Matt Celic, One of the Bright Lights
By Ernie Beach
June 30, 2004 - Earlier this week Matt Celic, the Patriarch of the Celic Family, succumbed to the cancer that kept coming back. I would hesitate to say that he had "lost his battle with cancer" because he was defeating it each time. It had to retreat and come back as a new form of the disease. I don't think too much ever did defeat Mr. Celic. He didn't have an easy life. He was an "Old School" individual. Honor, respect and the love for others seemed to be his mantra. I only did come to know him well after the World Trade Center tragedy that took his son Tom. I asked Matt, how did he still manage a smile, a joke or the kind words he always had for someone. He said, "I was taught that you only have one go round; when you get kicked in the pants, you get up and keep going." He certainly did just that. Matt Celic was a very special individual who more than touched my heart. I was so fortunate to get to know him. To say he will be missed cannot even touch the surface of what I am sure cannot be described. The love he had for his wife and family and those around them was felt deeply by many..... the glimmer in his eyes that he always seemed to have no matter how he was feeling..... the good words and the way he would take care of "the Boys". Staten Island was very fortunate to have Mathias Celic here. I certainly was. Thanks Matt, I will never forget you. You will be in my heart forever.
Below is the obituary as printed in today's Staten Island Advance.
CELIC: Mathias Celic of Egbertville on June 28, 2004. Beloved husband of Inez. Loving father of Donna Hindelong, Stephen, Michael, and the late Martin and Thomas Celic. Father-in-law of Roseanne, Theresa, and Karen Celic, and John Hindelong. Also survived and loved by eight grandchildren and two great grandchildren. Funeral from Hanley Funeral Home, 60 New Dorp Lane, Saturday 8:30 A.M. Mass of Christian Burial Our Lady Queen of Peace Church 9:30 A.M. Interment Moravian Cemetery. Friends will be received Thursday and Friday 2-4 and 7-9 P.M. In lieu of flowers, contributions to the Marty and Tom Celic Scholarship Fund would be appreciated.