Obituary

Matthew Edward Thuney, 70, a resident of Van Zandt, Washington, passed on October 30, 2022.

Matt was born May 27, 1952 in Bethesda, Maryland to Francis Miles “Gene” Thuney and Esther Josephine Pick Thuney. His father worked for Robertshaw Manufacturing, which took them to California in the early sixties where he spent his teenage years.

Matt studied psychology at Texas Christian University, comparative religions and anthropology at University of California at Santa Barbara and began training for the Episcopal ministry at Yale University Divinity School.

Matt was a writer at heart. After arriving to Bellingham in 1989, he was published in many local papers including Bellingham Times and Northwest Events.  He wrote columns, such as Thuney Casserole, Bellingham Home Companion, Thuney Notes, Not the Evil Step Parent, Matthew’s Mayhem and many more.  He also wrote for the Seattle Examiner.  He published several books including his favorite “Bucolia: Hijinx in the Hinterlands” which poked fun at himself, being a city dweller discovering life in the country.

Matt was an avid fan of baseball, football, and boxing. He rooted for the Mariners, Seahawks and

TCU teams and enjoyed watching boxing main fights with family and friends.

Matt had a lifelong passion for UFO studies and anything paranormal. In 1989, he founded BUFOG (Bellingham UFO Group) which later morphed into CONTACT (Center of Ontological Action).  The group met monthly for over 20 years.  Matt spoke at several conferences, including the Crash Retrieval Conference in Laughlin, Nevada.   He currently teaches UFO, Ghosts, Crop Circle and Sasquatch classes in the continuing education program at the Whatcom Community College.

Matt celebrated life by sharing with others.  He was a wedding officiant “Weddings with Spirit and Wit” and loved being involved in those special moments of people’s lives.  He wrote the couple’s love story which was always a highlight to the ceremony.

Matt was truly at home in Van Zandt and was passionately involved in many organizations, including being the station manager for KAVZ-LP 102.5 FM radio “The Voice of the Valley”.  He was the community coordinator for the South Fork Valley Community Organization and wrote a monthly newsletter “South Fork Scoop.”

Matt can credit his emotional growth to three women, whom he married. They were Alexis Barta (1972), Gina Giovanniello (1980) and Donna Radonski Adams (1993).

He is survived by his wife Donna of the family home, two brothers, Mike (Diana) and Andy, both of California, step children David (Dey) Adams of Bellingham and Rachel Adams of Van Zandt, grandchildren Miranda and Alison, and many friends who will all cherish the memories.

A celebration of life will be held at the Community Hall in Van Zandt on Saturday, November 26, from 5:00 to 8:00 PM.