Matthew H. McCloskey IV Service Information

Matthew H. McCloskey IV, 81, of Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, and Vero Beach, Florida, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family on January 3, 2024, in Gladwyne, Pennsylvania. He was a local Catholic philanthropist, respected business leader in the Philadelphia area, and a loving husband, father, and grandfather.

Matt was born in Philadelphia on April 18, 1942, to Matt and Joan. He attended Waldron Academy and St. Joseph’s Prep, where he excelled in math and serving JUG (aka Jesuit-supervised detention). Following his father’s advice to prepare to enter the family’s building business, Matt studied Civil Engineering at the University of Notre Dame from which he graduated in 1963.

After graduation, Matt returned home and embarked on his professional career with U.S. Steel Corporation. With a career change in mind, he transitioned from wearing a hard hat to donning a sports coat and became part of the esteemed brokerage firm, Elkins, Morris & Stroud, in Philadelphia. Feeling compelled to provide his clients more personalized financial advice, Matt departed from the company in 1969 and with his tireless work ethic, founded the McCloskey Financial Group which flourishes to this day.

Like his father and grandfather, Matt devoted his life to serving the Catholic Church in many charitable capacities. Most recently, he served proudly as president of the Ambassador’s Fund for Catholic Education, which supports innovative Catholic educational programs and initiatives within the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. For decades, Matt served on the Board of the Martin de Porres Foundation, an organization dedicated to developing lay leadership among Black Catholics. He was an active member of the Serra Club of Philadelphia and the former president of Serra International, which promotes vocations within the Catholic Church. In addition, he served on the Boards of St. Joseph’s Prep, The Catholic University of America and Rosemont School of the Holy Child.  For his dedication and service to the Church he loved so dearly, Matt was bestowed with Papal Honors including Knight in the Order of St. Gregory the Great and the Cross Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice

In 1963, Matt married his beloved wife Donna, whom he met on the opposite end of a blind double date while attending Notre Dame.  Donna and Matt would create quite a team for over 60 years. The young couple started their family and in short order welcomed Colleen, Patrick, Kathy, Andrew, and Brian. After a brief hiatus, along came Sean whom Matt jokingly referred to as the “Steamboat Springs Special.”

Fatherhood was Matt’s forte, and he presided over his Lark Lane domain like a seasoned counselor at Camp Brebeuf. Always the performer and life of the party, with a twinkle in his green eyes, Matt would serenade his children with many of his favorite tunes including Jamaica Farewell, Edelweiss, the Notre Dame fight song. Matt was a bear-hugging grandfather to 17 grandchildren who fondly knew him as “Pop-Pop.” With them, he shared not only his Catholic faith but also his deep fandom of his Philly sports teams, regardless of their records. Matt’s Sundays were marked by his own Holy Trinity: practicing his faith, Eagles football, and family dinners.

Matthew H. McCloskey IV will be dearly missed and never forgotten. His family takes great comfort knowing that he is reunited with his parents, Matthew H. McCloskey III and Joan Toole McCloskey, his younger brother, John “Dudley” McCloskey, and dear friends who have gone before him. Matt lived his Christian faith each and every day and he leaves this legacy with his wife, Donna née Carioscia McCloskey; brother-in-law, Dennis Carioscia; six children, Colleen von Ohlen (Robert), Matthew “Patrick” McCloskey (Susan), Kathleen Neff (Paul), Andrew McCloskey (Jennifer), Brian McCloskey (Maridel), and Sean McCloskey; and 17 grandchildren: Maximilian (Christie), Grace, and Blaise von Ohlen; Margot, Matthew, Colin, and Avery McCloskey; Ryan, Keenan, and MaryKate Neff; Owen and Eden McCloskey; and Garrett, Micaela, Chloe, Mia, and Grey McCloskey. 

Heaven has just gained an exuberant angel.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend his viewing on Tuesday, January 9, 2024, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., at St. John’s Vianney’s Church, 350 Conshohocken State Rd, Gladwyne, PA 19035. A Catholic Funeral Mass will take place at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, January 10, 2024, preceded by Words of Remembrance at 10:45 a.m., at St. Thomas of Villanova Church, 800 E. Lancaster Ave, Villanova, PA 19085.

In lieu of flowers, kindly consider contributions in memory of Matt to the Serra International Foundation at 333 W. Wacker Dr. # 500 Chicago, IL 60606 or to St. Joseph’s Preparatory School’s Matthew H. McCloskey IV Scholarship Fund at 1733 W. Girard Ave. Philadelphia, PA 19130.

Click here to watch the live stream of Matthews service. 

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