Matthew Patrick Collins: Father. Son. Boyfriend. Car guru. Born Aug. 27, 1989, in Placentia, N.L.; died June 14, 2024, in New Haven, Conn., following a motorcycle collision; aged 34.
Matthew Patrick Collins.Courtesy of family
When Matthew Collins was a boy, his parents, Robbie and Mary Collins, opened Matt’s Auto Services in their hometown of Placentia, N.L. Robbie’s grandfather was the original namesake of the company, and this new venture was the second generation to carry the wrench.
Matt’s automotive education began early. At 10, he built his first engine. After high school, he completed the automotive mechanics program at the local trades school but much of his knowledge came from his father, a mechanical wizard.
When Matt’s father died in 2016, Mary forged on with her son. He worked on snowmobiles, motorcycles, family cars, race cars, trucks, heavy equipment and more. Matt loved a challenge and he became a wizard for a new age of automotive technology. A client asked him if it was possible to amp up his C7 Corvette to 1,400 horsepower – Matt made it possible. When dealership mechanics in St. John’s got stumped by a high-end sports car, Matthew was consulted and the problem was quickly solved.
Matt worked remotely with clients from Oman and Thailand, from United States and Canada. A laptop, a stable internet connection and sensors on the client’s car enabled him to analyze the engine and perform his special Matt magic.
Much to his mother’s frustration, Matt lived by his own timetable and his own priorities. If she asked him to do something, he’d say, “I’ll get to it.” Matt had an endearing way of soothing her though. He’d ask, “Mudder, do you want a hug?”
Mary could use those hugs now as she goes through his warehouse. A combination man cave, storage space and workspace, the four-bay building is filled with a knee-high collection of parts and equipment, as well as six motorcycles, an old Chevy truck and Matt’s beloved late 1980s Fox Body Mustang. An image of that much treasured classic, the first car his parents gave him, will grace his headstone.
Matt was a giver. Hugs, gifts, random acts of kindness, his time – all were in abundance for those he held dear, especially his 12-year-old daughter, Lydia. Matt and Courtney were no longer a couple but together they raised their daughter. Matt supported Lydia’s love of hockey. He made sure she had the newest hockey stick and that her skates were sharpened to perfection. He would be very proud of her recent selection as a U13 AAA Female TriPen Ice Team member.
Rochelle Porter was the other great love in his life, and she treasures his phone full of messages to her as a memory of the bond they shared.
Matt also loved Harley Davidsons. He wasn’t interested in clubs or affiliations. A solo ride or a trip with a few friends was more than enough for him. Last winter he and three of his hometown buddies loaded their Harleys in a trailer and headed south for the Daytona Beach Bike Week. Before heading home, Matt stored his bike in Florida. Then in June, eager to take part in the famous Laconia, N.H., motorcycle rally, he returned to Florida to pick up his bike.
On his drive north, Matt collided with a car. He was airlifted to a hospital in New Haven, Conn., and his mother, Mary, sister, Genny and partner, Rochelle flew in from Newfoundland. They were with him when he died, less than 48 hours after the collision. Family friends collected Matt’s Harley to bring it home.
In June, family and friends gathered in Placentia to remember Matt. Cars and motorcycles snaked through nearby towns on the way to his celebration of life. In a scene worthy of a movie, motorcycles roared and sports cars burned some serious rubber as they passed by Matt’s Auto Services.
Jackie Gale-Vaillancourt is a family friend.
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