For My Dad’s Headstone Uriel “Popeye” Matamoros

Hello, my name is Jonathan. I am doing this fundraiser to help my Mom Rose or “Rosa” as many of you know her in the purchase of My Dad’s Headstone, Many of you know about my Dad Uriel “Popeye” Matamoros, he was a Very Proud US Marine Veteran, One of the Biggest #1 NY Yankees Fan you could meet, He considered everyone he met a great Friend, like Family. He was a Proud Longshoreman at Ports of America for PNCT in Newark, NJ he belonged to ILA Local 1233. He was very proud of himself when he became a Longshoreman, (as a matter of fact the picture that is on this GoFund me is from 2014 when he became a longshoreman) I remember him saying to my Mom I did it, I’m a longshoreman thanks to God and You for pushing me, this blessing is for my family. But sadly after 8yrs as a longshoreman, on July 13th 2022 right before his shift was over my Dad suffered a horrific incident while driving a machine he loved driving called a Straddler, the machine tipped over and my Dad passed away at the port just before 1:00 am that morning. I will always look up to my Dad, he was a family man and a very hard worker, he would always put his family first, when I was younger before he started working at the port I remember that at one point he had 3 jobs at once, it never bothered him and he never complained about all the work he did, he would always say this is for all of you guys, he always wanted what was best for us he always wanted a good education for us just like he had growing up, he went to Holy Rosary for elementary school and he graduated St. Patrick’s High school, both in our hometown of Elizabeth, NJ. He worked hard for us, we are 6 siblings and he put all of us through private school and we where able to graduate from a private high school, except my 2 youngest siblings that are still in high school and currently attend Roselle Catholic High School, My sister will be in 11th grade and My Brother in 10th grade this new school year, Catholic school education is all they’ve known since kindergarten, My Dad was so happy and proud of himself for being able to provide a wonderful education for us, my Mom has been trying her best and her hardest to keep them there as that’s what my Dad wanted and she wants to keep honoring him by doing so, but I know it’s been hard for her, I didn’t realize just how much she’s been going through until I moved back from Texas 2 months ago, to help out and be closer to my Mom and Siblings, my Mom does not like to intrude on anyone and would never let on of any hardships she’s been going through since my Dad passed away, but she has been going through a lot. I remember our talks on the phone after my Dad passed and she would comment about how my Dads longshoreman coworkers, longshoreman from all over the world, family and close friends helped her from day 1, how she was so scared as 8 months before my Dad passed away they had bought a house and what was she going to do? She let me know how when my Dad passed, a Longshoreman by the name of David set up a GoFund me in memory of my Dad and she was so relieved as she was able to pay for 6 months of their monthly mortgage and 6 months of their car payments and car insurance payments, that even if the money was all gone she felt a huge weight lifted from her shoulders, several less things for her to worry about. I remember my mom calling me in September of last year asking me if I would be able to come to Jersey that a longshoremen coworker of my Dads named Sena was organizing a motorcycle run in memory of my Dad and of the many longshoremen that would be participating and also of 2 longshoremen from another pier that didn’t even know my Dad named Anthony and Stephen where organizing a Hockey Game in honor of my Dad with proceeds going to my Mom and Siblings, unfortunately I wasn’t able to make it to either due to my work schedule but I was very thankful for them and I know that my Mom was very thankful also. As I mentioned I was living in Texas when all of this happened and I never had the pleasure of meeting many of My Dads Longshore coworkers that would come by and check up on my Mom and Siblings to make sure they where ok, I thank you for never leaving her or my siblings alone, she spoke with a lot of love and care about each of you, even those around the world that didn’t know our Dad helped, I asked my siblings about you all and these are some of the names they remember Chuck, Patricia, Nicole, Eric, Yusuf and Keon believe me when I say if I knew all of you by name (and I know there where many asking about my mom and siblings well-being) I would name you all, but know that I am eternally grateful for my Dads Longshore Brother’s and Sisters. I am grateful for all of Our Family and for my Dad and Moms friends for never leaving my Mom’s side, I would like to also thank Joe and Olga from Olga’s Place in Elizabeth for loving my Dad as they did and for providing the repass after my Dads funeral and for honoring his memory by displaying in their Restaurant a shadowbox with one of my Dads Favorite NY Yankees Jerseys. Thank You everyone for being there for my Mom and never think for a moment that you where not thought of, I honestly do not know many of your names and I did not ask my Mom as she would’ve asked me for what and then I would’ve had to tell her about the Go fund me and even though I am naming her as the Beneficiary I have not told her about my intentions of making this fundraiser, it’s taken me several days to get up the courage to post it, I know my Mom and she would have said no as she is never one to ask for help even when she really needs it. As I come to the end of My Dads Story all I can ask is if you can please help, anything will be greatly appreciated , all donations will go towards the purchase of My Dads Headstone as my Mom was finally told by the cemetery that all ground around my Dads Burial plot has finally settled (other people where buried around his plot these past several months and the ground had not settled yet) Even if you can’t donate please have my Mom in your prayers and if you can please reach out to her and offer words of comfort as on July 13 it will be my Dads 1 year anniversary of his passing and she needs our love and prayers more than ever. Thank You all for taking your time to read My Dads Story, I would like to share some pictures of my Dad as I always knew him to be, being Happy with family, his Marine days and of the aftermath of that heartbreaking day that changed our lives as a family forever.