Charles "Chuck" Matheny Dies at 76

Charles H. “Chuck” Matheny died peacefully at his home in Peapack on Thursday, December 14, 2017.

Chuck was born in 1941 to Walter D. and Mary Marguerite Matheny in Hibbing, Minnesota. He grew up in New Jersey, and is perhaps best known as the face of, and inspiration for the Matheny Medical and Education Center in Peapack, a facility serving the medical and educational needs of children and adults with complex developmental disabilities. The school was founded in his honor by his parents in Burnt Mills in 1946, expanded to a new location in Far Hills in 1949, and moved to its current location in Peapack in 1954.

Chuck attended the Matheny School and later worked as a groundskeeper and maintenance man at the facility, attending to the landscaping and vending service machines around the school. He lived in his own apartment on the campus and served as a mentor to other Matheny students and residents, modeling through his own work ethic the drive to overcome his disability and strive toward independence.

Chuck was actively engaged in the community, both through his work supporting Miles for Matheny, and serving as the Honorary Chairman for the Church World Service-sponsored CROP Hunger Walk. He was a member of the Somerset Hills Kiwanis Club, and was honored as “Kiwanian of the Year” in 1999 for his CROP Walk fundraising efforts. Chuck was an active member of Basking Ridge Presbyterian Church for over 50 years, and was deeply committed to giving back to the community through his church and volunteer work.

Chuck was famous for his joyful spirit and love of children, especially those of his friends and family. He was a sponsor of an Indonesian child, and provided leadership and support for students of the Matheny School, attending school plays, concerts, graduations, and other Matheny events. He had an infectious laugh and a wonderful sense of humor, which he enthusiastically shared with others. He loved biking, swimming, and traveling, especially to visit his wide range of family and friends.

Chuck was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his sister, Mary Ann (Gregg) Bents of Bowie, Maryland; his aunt, Myrl Jean Hughes of Hendersonville, North Carolina; niece Mary Heather (Gavin) Noble and their children, Zoë and Maggie, of Middlebury, Vermont; nephew Duane (Janine) Bents and their children, Kyleen and Bryson, of Fort Mill, South Carolina; chosen family Linda and William Waggoner and their children, Tesha, Luke, Grant, and Clark, of Las Vegas, Nevada; chosen family Tara and Matt Hopko and their children, Maddie and Lexie, of Oxford, New Jersey; and numerous extended family and close friends.

Memorial services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, January 25th at Basking Ridge Presbyterian Church, located at 1 East Oak Street in Basking Ridge. A celebration of life will also be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, January 26th in the Robert Schonhorn Arts Center on the Matheny campus, located at 65 Highland Avenue in Peapack.

Arrangements are by the Layton Funeral Home, 475 Main St., Bedminster.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Matheny Medical and Education Center, 65 Highland Avenue, P.O. Box 339, Peapack, NJ 07977. “I do not live with my handicap. I live with my spirit."