Strafford, VT – “It’s like the feeling you get at the end of a long day in the woods. The time has come to head home.” – A Country Planet (1986) by Tim Matson.
Timothy O’Shea Matson was born May 27, 1943, in New York City, the first of four children to Harold and Ann Matson. Raised in Greenwich Connecticut, Tim had an inquisitive, sharp mind; one that was never too interested in the classroom. Tim attended Rollins College, where he majored in “water-skiing and girls” before being drafted during the Vietnam War in 1966.
While serving his time at Fort Bragg, Tim worked for the Army newspaper where he discovered an unexpected upside of military life: an education in film photography and journalistic writing. Tim went on to cultivate a lifelong passion for storytelling through the lens, winning awards for his photography of contemporary dance group Pilobolus.
After being discharged, Tim returned to NYC to work in publishing, but the North called his name. A trip to Vermont in 1970 resonated deeply; he couldn’t shake the back-to-the-land movement’s promise of a radically self-sufficient, meaningful life. “Back in the city, I couldn’t get the mountains out of my dreams,” he wrote. A year later (and after having his motorcycle stolen-twice) he’d had enough of urban life and decided to get the hell outta dodge.
A rebel at heart, the rustic Vermont lifestyle would suit him. After purchasing 45 acres of wooded hillside land in Strafford, Tim built a home (with minimal carpentry experience), home-brewed beer (illegal at the time), and dove into the art of homesteading with his then-wife, Ellen Langtree. In many ways, Vermont was Tim’s muse-a source of creativity, adventure, and independence. “What I was trying to be part of was the creation of a new community, a new culture … we would manifest the dream of the 60s in the 70s. We would make it all come true here in Vermont,” he said.
Tim brought his lifelong love of water inland. He learned all he could about pond design and ecology, built his own pond, and went on to earn the unofficial title of The Pond Guru-writing numerous best-selling books and consulting in pond design for decades.
Those who knew Tim described him as a natural-born storyteller with an impeccable memory and mischievous sense of humor. Whether through writing, photography, or the bedtime stories he would ad-lib to his daughters Johanna and Mayellen throughout their childhoods, Tim always had a captivating tale to share. And boy could he make you laugh.
Music was in Tim’s blood. It didn’t matter his mood-a visit to Tim’s house inevitably led to his query, “Want to hear a song I’m learning?” followed by a lively piano rendition of his current favorite. Whatever he lacked in pitch, he made up for ten-fold with enthusiasm.
Tim loved the outdoors and loathed the effects aging had on his ability to stay active. He was an avid skier-his barefoot water skiing skills were nothing short of badass. Downhill skiing, cross-country skiing, ice skating, biking, swimming, and sledding with his daughters kept him invigorated throughout the seasons. Fresh air was his lifelong medicine. “Go outside!” was his catchphrase.
In his older years, Tim enjoyed the quiet solitude of life on his Strafford hill. He found contentment diving into mystery novels, watching Nordic Noir, and taking meditative walks on Miller Pond Road. Although it sometimes required arm-twisting to entice him to social gatherings, once he arrived (and was offered a beer), Tim was truly the life of the party.
Tim loved his daughters more than anything, and in his final days, he reflected on the experience of being a father as the greatest accomplishment of his life. He was thankful for the wonderful friendship that remained with his ex-wife, Ellen, and he lived to experience the joy of becoming a grandfather.
If one thing can be said about Tim: he was a master of his own fate. He lived on his own terms, and lord knows, he died on his own terms. On August 6, 2023, Tim passed peacefully in the cabin that he built, surrounded by family. A perfect summer breeze swept over his beloved hilltop home, ushering his soul onto his next cosmic adventure. Tim is survived by his daughters Johanna (fiancé Travis Parker) and Mayellen, granddaughter Maeve, sister Katinka Matson, sister-in-law Laura Matson, dear friend and ex-wife Ellen Langtree, and many more friends and loved ones.
Tim led an incredible, full life, and he will be deeply missed.