Matthew F. Watros

Matthew F. Watros, 60, of Newfield, NY, passed away peacefully at home on May 27^th, 2024. Incapacitated in the last few days of his life, Matt was lovingly cared for by his entire family, but when he took his last breath, it was with his little sister Tammy and faithful dog, Max, at his side, with his wife, Pam, and son Dylan just steps away.

Forever on the move, Matt was never one to laze about. His work ethic was indelible, and he always held himself to a high standard when performing the task at hand. Originally a mason by trade, he was truly a jack of them all. Matt worked for years building bridges at Silverline Construction, before taking his expertise to the Tompkins Co. Highway Dept. in the late 90’s and to the Town of Newfield in 2018. When he left the county, he did so as head supervisor, and he was the deputy supervisor at Newfield before his illness forced him into an early retirement. 

Volunteering since the age of 14, Matt was also a proud firefighter for the Newfield Fire Company. Truth be told, the fire station was a second home to Matt, and the place where he brought up his kids. He held many positions at Newfield, including that of Fire Chief many times over the years, but Matt did his best work on scene where he was always in the thick of things. As an EMT Matt rendered medical aid to hundreds, if not thousands of Newfielders over the course of his life. He was also a wizard with the “Jaws” at an MVA and was never afraid to make an aggressive interior attack at a structure fire. Despite his illness and the incredible pain he endured as a result of it, Matt served his beloved town faithfully until the end, running his last call just weeks before his death. 

Often solemn and gruff in appearance, Matt was truly a family man at heart and was happiest at home with his family, puttering around the farm, on his tractor with his dog, Max, at his side, or in his woods harvesting firewood for the coming winter. Matt had a deep and never-ending devotion to his children and grandchildren, and they in turn took great pride in knowing that he was their father, their grandfather, their hero.  

Matt was predeceased by his parents, Lynn and Nancy Watros, née Wood, and his mother-in-law, Helen Everhart. He is survived by his wife, Pamela, née Everhart; his children, Jaimi Weeks (Mike), Matthew J. Watros (Brittany), Dylan Watros (Erin), Jessie Lopez (Chris), and Hannah Adams (Connor); and his grandchildren, Bracen, Colton, and Zara Watros, Brooke, and Willow Weeks, and Adalyn Lopez. He is also survived by his sisters, Denise O’Dell (Ray) and Tamara VanOrman (Todd), niece, Sarah Milicic (Zach), nephew, Samuel VanOrman, great-nephew, Miles Milicic, his father-in-law, Dale Everhart, and his former wife and mother to his sons, Karen Harrell, née Iacovelli, along with a large host of cousins and friends.  

A celebration of life will be held for Matt on June 15, 2024, from 1 to 3 p.m. in the Watros Pavilion at the Newfield Fire Hall, with the burial of his ashes to follow. His family asks that anyone wishing to donate in Matt’s memory would please do so to the Newfield Good Neighbor Fund.