Point Pleasant Beach Restauranteur Killed In Snowmobile Crash

POINT PLEASANT BEACH, NJ — Family and friends are mourning a Point Pleasant Beach man who was killed in a snowmobile crash in Vermont.

Matthew H. Morris, 31, died Feb. 20 while snowmobiling near the Stratton Mountain Ski Resort, Winhall Police Chief Derrick Tienken confirmed to Patch.

Morris was riding the trail with a friend when his snowmobile left the trail and hit trees and rocks, Tienken said. The friend called for help and Morris was flown to Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in New Hampshire, where he died of his injuries, the chief confirmed.

Morris, a graduate of Point Pleasant Beach High School, had earned a bachelor's degree in hotel, restaurant and institutional management from the Penn State University School of Hospitality Management, according to his obituary on the O'Brien Home for Funerals website.

Out of college his first job was with the Union Square Hospitality Group where he worked as the service director and assistant general manager at the Modern Restaurant, a Michelin-star contemporary restaurant at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City.

Later he joined Point Lobster Company in Point Beach, his obituary said, "committing his time and creativity to co-founding Point Lobster Bake Catering Company, where he planned and operated full-service clam bakes for private and public events," He also launched the Point Lobster Bake food truck for high-volume seafood stands in and around New Jersey.

"We are sad to say that we have had a terrible loss to our Lobster Family, Matt Morris," a post on the Point Lobster Company Facebook page said. "Matthew has created a legacy that we will continue to live up to and carry on for him. He was larger than life & will be greatly missed by his family, friends, and of course his Point Lobster Family."

"His memory will never fade bc we simply won’t allow it to," the post said. "We will miss his smile, laughter, dedication, friendship, loyalty, his heart but above all just 'Matt,' " the post said.

Multiple other businesses shared the Point Lobster Facebook post and offered their condolences to Morris's friends and family.

Morris's family wrote: "Matt found great joy in creating personal and professional connections through his work and within his community and when he wasn't 'working hard' he was 'playing hard', spearheading epic Penn State tailgates in college, wining and dining friends for sunset sails on his boat on the Barnegat Bay, anchoring for long days at Flag and Treasure Islands with his beloved dog Kai, tearing up the dance floor at countless weddings, giving memorable speeches at all sorts of events, ordering for the table, snowboarding in Vermont, exploring tropical islands and so much more."

"His legacy lives on through the countless personal relationships he had with so many friends and family in each circle of his life," his family wrote. "His charming personality, uncanny wit, master storytelling abilities, unwavering tendency to always get a job done and propensity to show up to lend a helping hand made him one of the most important and outstanding guys this world has ever met."

Morris is survived by his father, Paul Morris; his mother, Kimberly (McShane) Murray and her husband, Dan; and his partner Niko Stathes. He also is survived by his 10 siblings and 12 nieces and nephews.

Funeral services were held Tuesday and Wednesday morning.

His family was urging people to donate in Morris's memory to Save Barnegat Bay, 117 Haines Rd., Toms River, NJ 08753.