Entrepreneur had passion for music

12/12/2004

RISINGSUN, Ohio - Gerald Eugene "Jerry" Matz, who built a sales and engineering consulting firm and who had a passion for playing drums, died of lung cancer on Friday in his home here. He was 66.

Mr. Matz founded Mecom Inc. in 1971, his wife, Karis Horner Matz, said.

Initially the firm provided technical assistance and sold engineering-related instruments, then shifted to conducting seminars across the United States and in Brazil on the principles of light and color measurement, Mr. Matz' son Joshua said.

Mr. Matz was a successful entrepreneur because his philosophy was always "make it a good day," instead of "have a good day," his son said.

Mr. Matz, the son of Kenneth Randall Matz and Anne Hampshire, was born in 1938 and raised in Fostoria, his wife said.

He attended Fostoria High School, where, as a drummer in band, he fell in love with music, Mrs. Matz said. "He just had a great love for music all his life," she said.

After graduating in 1956, he served in the Navy for four years, and played drums in several jazz bands. He later attended Ohio University for a semester. Mrs. Matz said he then transferred to the University of Findlay for a semester to be closer to her. The couple married in 1961.

Mr. Matz finished his college career at Bowling Green State University, graduating in 1964 with a degree in physics.

He gained experience at the Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing Co. and was affiliated with Brooks Engineering Co. of Chicago before moving back to Ohio to start his own company.

Surviving are his wife, Karis, son, Joshua, and two grandchildren.

Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday in First Presbyterian Church, Fostoria. Visitation will take place after 2 p.m. Tuesday in the Mann-Hare Funeral Home, Fostoria.

The family suggests tributes to the Shrine Hospitals for Children or the Fostoria Community Schools' music department.