EAST LONGMEADOW - Herbert John Matthews, Jr. of East Longmeadow and Harwich, MA passed away August 27, 2013 at Liberty Commons Rehabilitation Center, North Chatham, MA after a valiant fight against cancer. He was the beloved husband of almost 53 years of Barbara (Bedlow) Matthews, the devoted father of Lynn Kafal and her husband, Abdul, of Whitinsville, MA; Deborah Donovan and her husband, Daniel, of East Longmeadow; proud grandfather ("Pa") of Sami and Gibran Kafal, Jack Blanchard and Connor Donovan. He leaves a sister in-law, Joyce (Bedlow) Edwards and her husband, Rod, of Escondido, CA and their daughters along with several cousins and many dear friends. Herb was born in Worcester, MA on August 7, 1935, the only child of the late Herbert and Florence (Coleman) Matthews. He graduated from South High in Worcester and Boston University and was a Distinguished Military graduate. He retired with the rank of Captain from the U.S. Army Reserves. For thirty-four years he was employed by Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company in Springfield. He was an underwriter earning designations as a Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU), a member of the Life Office Management Association (LOMA), Fellow of Life Management Institute (FLMI), and a Fellow of the Academy of Life Underwriters (FALU). Herb retired in 1993. He was a former long-time member of South Congregational Church in Springfield, and served as its Moderator and President of the Men's Club. For the past twelve years he has been a member of Asylum Hill Congregational Church in Hartford, CT. Herb was a fifty-five year member of the Masonic Order and a member of the former Isaiah Thomas Lodge in Worcester. He served as the Chaplain of the Rose of Sharon Lodge in Charlton, MA. He was also a member of the Scottish Rite Bodies and Melha Shrine Temple in Springfield. Herb was a quiet, proud, and dignified gentleman with a great sense of humor. He had sterling character and lived his life with integrity. Always a man of his word, he was loyal and devoted to his family. He loved Cape Cod where he and Barbara met as children and where they vacationed for many, many years with four generations of family. He often expressed gratitude for his good life and his family. He never missed the opportunity to celebrate his grandsons' achievements. Herb and Barbara enjoyed cruises to Alaska, the Panama Canal, the Caribbean plus many trips to Maine, Hawaii, California and New Hampshire to visit family and long-time friends. Annual 3rd of July parties were special for many years and he always enjoyed New Year's celebrations in Ogunquit and spur-of-the-moment family dinners. You will always be loved and missed, "One Smart Fellow". Calling hours will be on Friday, September 6 from 5PM-8PM at Forastiere Smith Funeral Home, 220 North Main Street, East Longmeadow with a Masonic Service at 7PM. A memorial service will be held at the Asylum Hill Congregational Church, 814 Asylum Avenue, Hartford, CT, on Saturday September 7 at 12 Noon followed by a luncheon at the church. Burial will be private at the Baptist Village Cemetery in East Longmeadow. In lieu of flowers, donations in Herb's memory may be sent to: Masonic Angel Fund c/o Carl I. Swanson, 88 Masonic Home Road, Apt. P402, Charlton, MA 01507; Septembeard which is Herb's son-in-law, Dan's effort towards putting a stop to prostate cancer at http://septembeard.org/team/1748; Shriners Hospital for Children, 516 Carew Street, Springfield, MA 01104; or Asylum Hill Congregational Church, 814 Asylum Avenue, Hartford, CT 06105.