Friday, May 17, 2024
Mathew John Rinaldi, 89, passed away peacefully on June 6, 2023, at his home surrounded by family in Wenatchee, Washington.
Born to John and Mary Rinaldi Aug. 1, 1933 ,in Alhambra, California, the Rinaldi family eventually landed in Centralia, Washington, where Matt went to junior high, high school (1951), and junior college, also meeting his wife of 66 years, 361 days, Anna Lee Spendiff.
Matt went to college at Washington State University, earning a bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering (1956). He and Anna Lee were married June 9, 1956, just prior to entering into mandatory military service.
Newly married at the time, they spent a stretch of the service time at The Presidio, San Francisco, California, a time often happily reminisced. In 1958, Matt began a career with Pacific Northwest Bell (PNB), which took the Rinaldis first to Spokane where the first two of four children arrived, and then to the Seattle area where the third and fourth were born.
Matt worked for PNB until retirement in 1989. He and Ann called Edmonds home for 57 years until moving to Wenatchee in 2020 to be near family. Matt came from a hard-work upbringing of farming and logging, so it wasn't until young adulthood that he discovered sports.
He played football at Centralia Junior College and was simultaneously a player and the team bus driver. He spoke of those adventures with great fondness. His love of sports – playing, coaching, refereeing, spectating – continued throughout his life. He was a great supporter of all four children's and all of the grandchildren's sports pursuits.
After retirement from PNB, he gave tirelessly back to the greater Edmonds/Snohomish County community as a referee, primarily girls' basketball, and later as an umpire for senior softball leagues.
Matt's life was long and prosperous, full of good fortune and vibrance. He and Ann enjoyed extensive world travel and a great many family gatherings and celebrations. Matt's family was the most important part of his life – it was his focus and he was the cornerstone. He will be greatly missed.
He is predeceased by his parents, John and Mary Rinaldi, and sister, Fran Simonsen. He is survived by his wife, Anna Lee; four children, Laurie (Thom), Jenni (Dave), Mike (Margreet), and Jodi; grandchildren Elizabeth, Andy, Jim, Matthew, Rachel, Kelsey, Nicole, Carolyn, and Paul; great-grandchildren Lucy, Penny, Ella, Lochlan, and Rosie; as well as nieces, nephews, and their families.
A Celebration of Life in Matt's honor will take place at 2 p.m. on Aug. 5, 2023, at the Edmonds Center for the Arts, 410 4th Ave. N., Edmonds, Washington. Donations in honor of Mathew Rinaldi may be made to the Edmonds Boys and Girls Club or Homage Senior Services.
