Matthew Sullivan changed his life and the lives of others for the better.
The 41-year-old from Concord had been sober for five years. He was a constant presence at the gym, texting others messages of motivation, pushing them to get physically and mentally stronger.
“He just was a kind soul and a very sensitive person, and well-liked by everyone that met him,” his mother, Kathleen Sullivan, said.
Sullivan faced his own battles. He was diagnosed with epilepsy at 33, which prevented him from driving. After staying seizure free, he regained the freedom behind the wheel and bought a Jeep. He experienced the death of his brother when they were kids and worked through that grief.
He would have turned 42 on Wednesday, May 13, 2026. Sullivan died unexpectedly last month. Instead of celebrating his birthday, his friends and family are coping with his sudden loss.
He was known around the city after working at UPS, Planet Fitness, and at Smokeshow Barbeque. His parents were teachers.
What stood out most, more than his large stature and toned gym body, was a man whose life was defined by a quiet strength and persistent kindness.
His best friend, Kyle Savage, had known him since high school. They grew closer and further apart and then closer again in recent years. Like a lot of friends, he called him “Sully.”
To Savage, Sully was a great example of turning things around.
“He was strong enough to carry the memory of his brother Thomas’ passing. He was strong enough to quit his addiction to alcohol,” Savage said in his eulogy. “He was strong enough to start letting down the walls he kept up and realized that he was deserving of love, self-love, and friendship.”
Matthew Sullivan (L) and Kyle Savage (R) spent every as much time on the mountain as they could for the past few years. Credit: Kyle Savage / Courtesy 
Matthew Sullivan of Concord was a source of inspiration with his quiet and calm demeanor, and his motivation to help others. Credit: Kyle Savage / Courtesy 
Matthew Sullivan took a trip to Breckenridge, Colo. with The Deacons, an organization where he found purpose. Credit: Kyle Savage / Courtesy
Snowboarding and outdoor sports were a large part of Sullivan’s life. During his time in high school, he was captain of the crew team and a member of the Lacrosse team.
Later in life, snowboarding led him to form meaningful connections. He hung out with a group of peers as part of a ski and board fraternal organization, “The Deacons,” and had some of his best mountain trips.
Savage shared a love of the mountains and skied with Sullivan almost every weekend.
Sullivan’s mother and father, Kathleen and Timothy, were teachers in Concord. Matthew left behind many family members, including a sister Anna and brother Jon, but most importantly, his teenage son Koen, who he loved dearly.
Kathleen Sullivan said she hopes Matthew inspired others to live healthy lives. His time attending a rehabilitation center to quit alcohol was so positive that he was offered a position afterwards.
The gym was always an important catalyst in his life. One of his best gym buddies from Planet Fitness, Adam Dodge, said Sullivan saved his life.
After a dark period of personal turmoil, Dodge felt lost. Sullivan’s willingness to help him in the gym, send him daily reminders, and being constant helped.
Sullivan had a dream of being a personal trainer. Dodge described him as an admirable “gym dad,” always helping people out.
“That gift of believing in somebody and pushing them. Just getting the outside of reality a little bit and somewhere where the two of us had control over our destiny, to some degree, he saved my life,” Dodge said.
Adam Dodge and Kyle Savage showed up to the gym and Sullivan was strangely absent. They called around looking for him. The next day, they found out he had died.
Sullivan’s strength came in handy at his many workplaces. UPS, Smokeshow Barbeque catering and as a snowboard instructor at Pat’s Peak.
Matt Gfroerer, the owner of Smokeshow and good friend of Sullivan’s, said the catering truck trips have been empty without him. It’s a big loss for the business not having his skill set and personality around.
Though his passing was a shock to those who loved him, his story remains one of hope for his friends and family. They said he proved that there’s a way out of a dark road. That you can find your way to happiness, and leave it a little brighter for everyone else along the way.
“I told a friend, ‘I think I have a Sully-sized hole in my heart now,’ and he’s like, ‘That’s a big, beautiful, handsome hole,'” Savage said.