OSWEGO – Matthew Joseph Cole was a remarkable young man who was the light of his parents’ lives. He was kind, caring, thoughtful and full of smiles. He graduated from North Rose-Wolcott High School in 2023 and then attended Hartwick College.
Matthew loved traveling with his family. They spent many vacations at Disney World and traveled to Alaska, California, and many cities across the country to watch baseball games. Matthew was a Blue Jays fan for most of his life and had such hopes that they would win the World Series last year. He traveled with a group of friends in high school to Europe and went to Puerto Rico his freshman year of college for his swim team training trip. Matthew was always up for adventure.
As a very young child, Matthew fell in love with swimming. He swam competitively with the Wolcott Greenfins Swim Club, starting at age 9. He was truly in his element at any pool, and he made friends with so many swimmers from all over. Swimming taught him how to work hard to reach his goals, and he was always pushing himself to do better. He had a lot of great coaches over the years, some of whom were never officially his coaches, but made a huge impact on him nonetheless. Swim friends became swim family.
That love of swimming brought him to Hartwick College, where he truly grew so much as a swimmer and as an individual. During his freshman year, the team won the Empire 8 and Allegheny Mountain Championships, and Matthew was so proud to have scored points for his team. The Hartwick Swimming and Diving Team became not just Matthew’s teammates, not just his friends, but family. During his sophomore and junior years, he continued to improve and was honored to receive the award for the Most Improved Swimmer at the end of his last season.
Matthew was a lifeguard at his high school, where he was the director of the summer swim program the last two years. He loved teaching younger kids how to swim. This past summer he was also a lifeguard at Fair Haven Beach State Park, and he absolutely loved that too. He went back to Wick for a week this summer to help Coach Dale with a swim camp for local kids.
In addition to swimming, Matthew also played tennis, a lot of pickleball at Neahwa Park, and spent lots of hours at golf courses with his friends. Whatever he did, sports or school, he always gave his best effort. He worked hard for every honor he ever earned, and he made everyone so proud.
Matthew’s life was full of joy and love. For an only child, he found the most amazing extended family through all of his adventures in life. Matthew is survived by his parents, Brian and Kelly Cole, grandparents Joe and Chris Crisafulli and Larry and Terry Cole, aunts, uncles, nephews, and cousins; and was predeceased by his grandmother, Judy Cole.
Matthew will be remembered by all for his warm smile, gracious heart, and his zest for life. He always believed in “a great, big, beautiful tomorrow”, so look for blue jays and hold Matthew in your heart.
Calling hours will be held from 1-5 PM on Wednesday, August 26th, at the Nelson Funeral Home, 11 W. Albany St., Oswego. A prayer service will follow the calling hours with Rev. Richard Morisette officiating.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Matthew’s memory to the Hartwick Swimming and Diving Team through Talons Trust. You can honor Matthew by contributing to the team and family he loved so very much.
Arrangements are under the caring guidance of Nelson Funeral Home.
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