Celebrating The Life Of Community Member Jeremy ‘Aaron’ Mattia

Aaron loved the maker community and was at home in the shop. He was a great guy that wanted to see everybody succeed. He was a problem solver he was an organizer and at heart he was an artist trying to figure out his place in the world. He was so proud of his part behind the scenes on Myth Busters often talked about how Jamie Hyneman he was a big inspiration to him. And how being on the show team inspired him. I met him when he came to one of the welding classes three years ago and was talking about how he was unhappy in San Francisco. I invited him to come live in East Durham I told him he could use my shop… he arrived in NY the week of the first maker camp. Shortly after that he became integrated into the shop… it was like he was always there.. picking up after me, organizing my mess and making the place better for everybody here…He told me to think of myself as a jet pilot and that he was a jet mechanic. He was proud to make sure all my crazy old machines worked and always figured out that one missing part… Aaron proudly served 10 years as a US Marine and spent time in Afghanistan. he was proud of his service and I was proud to know him. Aaron I love you and I miss you already. RIP. He would have been 48 this October.

Aaron was always on top or ahead of the issues at hand. No shop problem could ever pass him by without being resolved. He made life easier and more efficient for everyone around him. I’ll miss the times at lunch we had eating our sandwiches from the Milk Run going on and on about the next random topic of the day, picking apart its meaning and history or laughing about the absurd ideas we came up with… A pizza cutter with a nitro RC motor… It was genius! He had some small bit of childish humor we shared that I really enjoyed. He has influenced many more people than he ever could have known. For that, I am happy to have known Aaron and will take his lessons and knowledge he has passed onto me forever. Thank you for everything Aaron. Rest easy my friend.

The maker community lost an incredible person this week. I met Aaron on the set of a show at Jimmy Diresta’s farm, and he and I worked extremely closely for four months, 12+ hours a day…Aaron absolutely loved the maker community and said “makers are my people.” He was an incredible guy that wanted to see everybody succeed.  Aaron was the kind of guy you can say “I need this” or “I need this done” and it would be found, or it would get done come hell or high water.
He was incredibly proud (as he should have been) in his part behind the scenes on Myth Busters. Aaron was the one who built most of the iconic Mythbusters contraptions that you can remember, while his contemporaries did the easy work on screen. Being on the show team inspired him, and getting to work with someone who built part of what inspired me to be a maker was a privilege that few can claim. He was an absolute sponge of knowledge and was constantly reading through manuals from front to back, and could fix most machines in his sleep. He was a jet mechanic in the military and his tool discipline and organization were second to none. He served 10 years in the Marines in Afghanistan and was proud to do so. When I worked with him on set, he was an incredible sounding board and fabricator, helping me finish projects and source ridiculous materials in extremely short notice, like field marking chalk. He taught me to always tip your delivery drivers, and things will always be on time. Everyone in the community around East Durham knew him and loved seeing him go to the Milk Run for the same exact lunch every single day. I truly wish I had had more time to learn from him. I only knew him for a short time but can count him as a close friend. Rest in Peace Aaron.

[On taking Aaron’s portrait] When he first stood before me, I saw someone who wasn’t entirely comfortable being the focus. But, I could also see someone looking out into the world searching for connection; quiet, noticing what others needed. I am grateful that he took a moment to be recorded and known. I truly hope he felt seen. Aaron, you enriched the lives of the people you touched, no matter how briefly.

Aaron was a true problem solver. Aaron just wanted to share his knowledge with the world. I met Aaron on Clubhouse in the “In the Shop” club… like some of you also did. We would spend hours on there talking about making stuff, fixing stuff, we would talk about what some aspirations were. He would share with me some of the cool stuff that he had done in his time on this earth… He would check in on me from time to time and I with him. He just cared. He was a genuine and kind soul. He wanted to make this world a better place. He wanted to foster an environment for learning. He was the person who always made sure that everything moved smoothly behind the scenes. He would be prepared for things that some people never would have foreseen. He just always thought 10 steps ahead. His intelligence was mind-blowing.

I’m thankful that I got to meet Aaron in person. He gave the most wonderful hugs. I’m thankful that I had the opportunity to call him a friend. I’m sad I didn’t get to tell him how grateful that I was for everything that he helped me with. I wish I could have told him how thankful I was for his friendship. For always sharing his worldly advice. He was always there for me, willing to help me figure life out. He was a genuine, kind soul.

Aaron was always the guy to help people. If there’s anything we can take away from the time he spent on this earth, it’s for us to continue to share knowledge. We have to continue to support each other. I’m going to miss him dearly. Rest In Peace my friend.

You have been one of the brightest lights in my life. Whether you were sharing sage shop advice, an amazing bear hug (you gave the greatest hugs) or a sentimental story, it was always a joy to be around you. Even though you were so far away, it filled my life with true joy seeing you so happy these last few years in the upstate with your family and our friend Jimmy. I know it meant a lot to them as well to have you around. You are one of the kindest humans I have had the joy of working with and one of my truest friends. The #mythbusters family is less with you gone. I am grateful for every moment, build, hug and laugh we shared.