Matthew Bryan Riha
October 9, 1973 ~ January 2, 2022
Matthew Bryan Riha, 48, passed away with his wife by his side, January 2, 2022 after a courageous battle with cancer. Matt was born October 9, 1973 in Mayfield Heights, OH to Waren and Penny Riha (Meyers). He grew up in Thompson and loved doing country boy things like playing in the woods, fishing, anything with motors, blowing things up and riding bikes and getting up to no good.
Matt spent the last 30 years of his life with his wife, Mandie, who he met and wooed in High School. They made their home in Madison where Matt worked at many places including Duffy's tavern and various manufacturing companies, lastly at Ohio Elastomers. Matt was a Son of the American Legion Post 112 where he enjoyed sharing a good drink and conversation with many. To know Matt was to either love him or hate him. He always told it like it was, but those who really knew him know he was a kind and gentle soul. He liked to get a rise out of people, make you laugh or feel good about yourself, usually by flirting. He would give you the shirt off his back and help anyone who needed it. Matt had many interests, playing guitar, riding his Harley Davidson, cooking, growing things you can eat, playing pool, shooting guns, listening to music, woodworking, fishing, trivia, tinkering with motors, his cats, meat in a bun and a simple life. He hated tablecloths', broccoli and stupid people.
Matt was a devoted husband and an amazing dad. Matt and Mandie (aka Mrs. Matt) enjoyed spending time in their home with their cats & daughter, visiting with family and friends, and taking vacations. His most favorite person in the world was his 7-year-old daughter, Tilly. They were thick as thieves and loved to hang out in the garage, build blanket forts, watch tv, keep secrets from mommy, play music, tinker with things, telling jokes and playing chase around the house. Matt was often seen following after Tilly as she played in the cul-de-sac and explored her world. Matt loved to tell people his name meant "Gift from God" and he truly was a gift to his family (even if Mandie often wanted to throw a coffee cup at his head). In his daughter's words, he was a very, very good man.
He is survived by his wife Mandie Riha and daughter Matilda Riha; his 4 cats Duke, Flower, Ellie & Margo, sister-in-law Julie (Jeff) Kunz, parents Waren and Penny Riha (Meyers), niece BK Riha, step father-in-law Frank Whitaker, and his and his wife's uncles, aunts, cousins and many beloved friends.
He was preceded in death by his mother-in-law Barb Whitaker, father-in-law Scott Burgett, his cats Shamoo, Maizie, Ozzie & JoeJoe, and his and his wife's grandparents, uncles, aunts and many dear friends.
The family would like to thank his last doctor, Dr. Hirva Mamdani, for helping him fight and giving him one last Christmas with his daughter. Also thank you to all of you who prayed for Matt's recovery. To those of you that carried us, we will never forget the support and love you have given us.
Arrangements are being handled by Behm Family Funeral Home. A celebration of Matt's life will be held at the American Legion Post 112 on Friday January 7, 2022 from 2-6 PM. The family will provide a eulogy and toast to Matt at 4:30 PM and invite anyone else who would like to share their memories of Matt.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to his daughter via PayPal @Tillydaddymemorial or directly to Matilda Riha c/o Mandie Riha PO Box 225 Madison, OH 44057. Online obituary and condolences may be viewed at www.behmfuneral.com
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I am middle son of Matt’s mom older sister Carole Binnig. Matt, Eric, Joe(my younger brother) and I spent a lot of time down at the creek turning over rocks finding snakes, and whatnot. Miss you man.
When we first moved to Madison Village Matt was tending bar at Duffy’s tavern. He was sitting on the bar watching South Park and making funny jokes. He made us feel welcome not only to Duffy’s but to the Village. Bless him and his family.
Mandie, I am so sorry for your loss. You and Tilly are in my thoughts and prayers!
Waren & Penny you have my condolence and prayers for the passing of your son. I remember how he enjoyed coming into Woodline to visit you.
My Dad (Wayne Post) and I would like to send our sincerest condolences and sympathies to the family. I met Matt through my Dad who is a Legion member. Matt and I shared some pretty deep conversations and I always enjoyed talking to him when I saw him. He was no doubt a caring and giving man. He will be missed by many at the Legion I know that, and I will miss seeing and talking to him on my visits with my Dad as well. May God Bless all of you and guide you all in healing.
Wayne and Michele Post
Madison/Willoughby
Matt what can I say besides that your was my best friend in school and I’ve missed you more then you know and now I won’t have that chance to reconnect with you I’m at a lost for words but I’ve always had a very special place in my heart for you cuz you and I was so close in school and have done so many crazy things together. I’m sorry we’re never had that chance to reconnect but that times we had we had a blast and those I’ll never forget I love bro fly high my friend till we meet again.
Tribute to Matt
Matt was fun to have around. He was a good conversationalist and had a great sense of humor. I loved him very much and I also liked him as a person.
When he and his brother, Eric, were growing up, they were very close. They would stick up for each other to the point that if one of them got into trouble, one would never tell on the other. This made it difficult for us as parents to punish the right child. Of course, our kids were smarter than us.
Matt and Eric and his father enjoyed some good times when we lived in Madison. They went fishing a lot and even ice fishing. Matt wrote a poem about ice fishing, and it was read on a local radio station. He also created a piece of carved art that was entered in a school contest. I loved it so much I still have it sitting on my bookcase today. I think of Matt every time I look at it.
The first day Matt came home from kindergarten I was waiting for him. When he got off the bus, he started walking up the street instead of our driveway. I asked him where he was going.
“I’m going to Helen’s” he said.
“Who is Helen?” I asked.
“She’s my friend.” he said.
Helen’s Grandmother lived very close to us, and Helen was going over there after school. But Helen wasn’t the first girl that he befriended.
We used to go camping a lot at Fawn Lakes with friends. They had two children, Dawn and Kevin, that were close in age to ours. Matt and Dawn were three years old and used to hold hands and walk around the campsite. We had many good times.
Madison was in the country so we had horses and a lot of cats to take care of any mice problem. Matt loved the horses and taking care of them. And he had a special bond with the cats, especially PV. The PV stood for piss and vinegar.
Matt also played a big brother role to my best friend’s daughter, Cathy. Cathy lives in Georgia now so she couldn’t be here. But both my best friend of 60 years and her daughter are here in spirit.
Matt was always helpful when my parents grew elderly, too. He was kind and didn’t mind helping me. And it says a lot about the kind of adult Matt was becoming.
When Matt became a teenager, he and I used to go out for coffee. Matt didn’t really drink coffee, but it was a good excuse for he and I to have long conversations about everything. I felt very close to Matt. This is before he met his best friend and the love of his life, Mandie.
We used to travel on vacation every year. One vacation that I think Matt liked a lot was a trip to Anchorage, Alaska. My sister and her family lived there. Matt was very close to their youngest son, Joe. Matt was 16 and Joe was 17. Matt really enjoyed that trip.
Another adventure was a road trip to Texas when the kids were little to visit my sister and her family. We even spent one day in Mexico. We went to Galveston and Matt & Eric swam in the ocean.
After Matt left home, he would visit Dad and I a lot. We would mostly just hang out or he and his father would putter around in the garage. We called Waren by his middle name then, Dale, and he was always working on some project in the garage. Matt learned to be very handy.
Not too long after Dale and I moved to Tennessee we got a call from Mandie that is a parent’s worst nightmare. It wasn’t life threatening but Matt had been severely burned in an industrial accident. We immediately flew up to visit him and give him our support. That same year an opposite event occurred. Matt and Mandie were going to be married! I was hoping that they would be there for each other for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health. And they were.
This has been the worse week of my life. It is said that no parent should have to bury their child, and it is true. Fortunately, I have many wonderful memories of Matt and Matt’s family. I want to be closer to his sweet daughter, who is a lot like her father. I will miss Matt every day for the rest of my life.