Matthew John Prisutti, age 88, of Port Charlotte, Florida, passed away peacefully on May 21, 2025, after battling complications following a stroke and heart attack in April 2025. Born on December 7, 1936, in Brooklyn, Kings, New York to Robert Joseph Prisutti and Anna Marie Scrimenti, consummate Italians, they instilled a strong sense of family, work ethic, and sense of humor, that he carried throughout his life. He did not have any other siblings. He enjoyed the bustling city and modest apartments of family and friends until his family relocated to Millville, NJ, where he was settled into a rural farming life surrounded by woods, forest and marsh.

As an avid music enthusiast, he mastered the piano in his youth and throughout his life was happy to share a tune, play for revelry and sub at his local church when a pianist was needed. A love of jazz from an early age through the evening of his life was ever-present.

Educated at Drexel Institute of Technology in Philadelphia, PA, as an electrical engineer through the Army officers training corps, he served two years in the military as an officer engineer, and had over 35 years of Federal service including over 30 years with the Department of Defense near Washington, DC, specializing in communications and communication operations all over the world.

It was during his early years in Washington, DC, that he met his wife Ruth Eloise Patrick and in 1964 they were married and made a home in Arlington, VA. After starting a family, Matt  and Ruth moved to Waterford, Virginia where they raised two children and enjoyed rural living.

His continuing successful engineering career included providing support at the Pentagon and the White House; and all over the country and the world at various military and commercial facilities. During his tenure, he went on to earn a Master's Degree from Virginia Tech in electrical engineering and was an honor graduate of the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. He also received numerous accolades for his work and completed his career as the Director of Defense Data Transmission Network. He continued to serve in the Army Reserve, including certain activations like Desert Storm, where he attained the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

After retirement in 1994, he kept active through an adjunct professorship at Montgomery College in Maryland; service on the Board of Directors at the Returned and Services League of Australia and the Washington Chapter of the Independent Telephone Pioneers Associations; and an officer the local chapter of the National Association of Retired Federal Employees.

He relocated from Waterford, Virginia to Venice in southwest Florida endeavoring in a number of pursuits. Matt enjoyed international travel; attending major baseball exhibitions and games which transitioned from the Frederick Keys in Maryland to the Florida Complex League Rays/Tampa Bay Rays in Port Charlotte with many stops along the way; amateur photography; leadership in the National Association of Retired Federal Employees; and membership in his favorite Italian American Club of Venice, Florida. Some of his photo work was displayed multiple years at a local Pinebrook South photo exhibit where he was a member of the Pinebrook Camera Club.  Attending air shows where he photographed many aircraft and met premier and well-known pilots was a passion. He also carried that passion into an airplane model construction hobby which resulted in the completion of hundreds of beautiful models over the years after meticulous assembly and painting.

It is also worth noting that he was an avid collector with a wide array of items including stamps, coins, matchbooks, and swizzle sticks (those long-forgotten drink stirrers that many clubs customized), caringly stored until lack of room and frailty of the items took most. As a widower after 2010, he continued to pursue many interests including frequenting local music venues and seeking out local community events and artists.

With his dearest companion Susie Reed, travel through the mid to late 2000's was an enthusiasm and priority. He was able to make once-in-a-lifetime trips to Africa, Tahiti, Italy, Canada, Costa Rica, Finland, and Alaska and return proclaiming all the praises of people, places and experiences, photographed with great care.  Many trips including those nearby reflected his love of the outdoors and nature, flora and fauna alike. He could be content on a trail but also sitting and watching a beautiful sunset or looking at the waters and waves in the harbor.

In the evening of his life, he remained active playing bocce at the Italian American Club in Venice, Florida; enjoying entertainment with his companion at a number of venues like the Venice Theater and Royal Palm Playhouse; listening to live music; watching TV including thought-provoking documentaries; making terrible "dad" jokes; and eating good meals at home or at various favorite restaurants. He very much enjoyed any Italian Deli. He continued to keep his mind sharp in the pursuit of any available crossword puzzle and word jumble, and one can picture him pouring over the puzzle, pen top chewed between teeth, as he considers his next choice.

Matt is survived by children and grandchildren including daughter Susan Eloise (Prisutti) Poplin and husband Michael Glen Poplin, and grandchildren Trevor Glen Poplin, Matthew Michael Poplin and Savannah Ruth Poplin of Tallahassee Florida; and daughter Anna Marie Prisutti of Waterford, Virginia.

Matt's wishes were to be interred in the Arlington National Cemetery and Life Celebration plans will be forthcoming upon that arrangement as well as any local arrangements in Port Charlotte or Venice, Florida. Epiphany Cathedral, Diocese of Venice, Florida  mass bulletin on 05/30/2025 will include him in its listing. Donations in his memory can be made to the PBS WEDU Port Charlotte or to the Red Tail Squadron travelling exhibits.