Beloved Father Of 2 Young Daughters Dies; Mourned By North Haven, Hamden Communities

NORTH HAVEN, CT — The Hamden and North Haven communities are mourning the death of Matthew Nolan, who is being remembered as a devoted husband and loving father of two young daughters, along with being a successful business owner and podcaster.

Nolan died April 4 at the age of 41. He leaves behind a “heartbroken family, a wide circle of friends, and a life story marked by courage, creativity, and kindness,” according to a GoFundMe page that was launched to help the family with expenses.

Nolan grew up in Hamden before moving to North Haven, according to his obituary.

“Matthew excelled in everything, including academics, sports, and theater,” the obituary reads. “Each of these aspects grew and evolved with him over the course of his life. He was a star baseball player in his youth and traded the diamond for links in adulthood, enjoying countless rounds of golf with his friends. His love of music and theater in particular, stayed with him through his whole life, with friends and family alike left with countless memories of Matthew belting out showtunes or Billy Joel numbers whenever possible (and maybe sometimes when he probably shouldn’t have). Later in life, he converted his desire to help others into multiple small businesses whose work continues to benefit the communities he leaves behind.”

Nolan was a devoted husband to his wife Jenny and a loving father to their two daughters, who became the “center of his world,” according to the GoFundMe page.

“He cherished every moment with them, from everyday laughs to big family milestones,” the post on GoFundMe reads. “His girls were his proudest accomplishment.

“Matt was known for his entrepreneurial spirit—running multiple successful businesses while still finding the time to host a podcast where he shared his passion for fitness, trivia, and the occasional movie quote. He was a true original: irreverent, warm, generous, and deeply caring. He had an unmatched talent for making people feel seen and heard, often offering support before anyone even asked. He’d give you the shirt off his back—and probably a fresh pair of Air Max 90s to go with it.”

Nolan was also described as a “caregiver, a friend-magnet, a golf fanatic, a health nut with a notorious sweet tooth, and someone who left behind not just memories, but a legacy—especially through his podcast and YouTube videos, created in part as something his daughters could always turn to,” according to the GoFundMe page.

“Matt was the rock of his family, their provider and protector,” the post reads. “With his sudden passing, Jenny now faces the overwhelming responsibility of managing all household expenses, medical and funeral costs, and the future educational needs of their daughters on her own.”

More than $147,000 has been raised within the first three days of the GoFundMe campaign.

For more information, visit the GoFundMe page here.

Read the full obituary at Beecher & Bennett Funeral Home here.