Matthew Grant Thorsen was called home to the gates of Valhalla on New Year’s Day 2019, at the age of 51. He passed away peacefully at his home in Essex Junction, Vt., with the love of his life, Diane Sullivan, and his rescue cat Darkness by his side. He was a world-renowned photographer, Renaissance man and masterpiece of humanity whose life and art impacted all who knew him or his life’s work. Born in Point Pleasant, N.J., on October 10, 1967, Matthew traveled to many places, including France, Tibet, China, Nepal and Hanauma Bay, Hawaii, where he asked Diane to marry him with a ring made of raw rubies and meteorites. He enjoyed glam-camping with the “Campers” in the Champlain Islands and traveled the world taking photographs. Matthew has photographed countless people and their moments, documenting and contributing to Vermont’s cultural history. He has taken so many photographs that chances are he took your picture, and you probably had a really good time when he did it. Matt and Diane lived and created many years in the legendary “artist compound” and garden on the corner of Church and Maple streets in Burlington and ultimately made their home the “Minky Manor” in Essex Junction. The thousands of portraits he took never ceased to amaze those who witnessed his work and how he lived. He worked as the lead photographer for Seven Days since the newspaper’s inception in 1995, winning several local, national and international photography awards. Matt was a pioneer of the “selfie,” and he covered every aspect of life and portraiture while documenting the lives of Vermonters. He offered an uncommon, edgy, innovative and revered perspective on our community. Known as Mub, Thor and Thorsen, and called a handsome genius, a crazy uncle and an eccentric weirdo, Matt was capable of everything. He played drums and the harmonica, mastered carpentry, gymnastics, soccer and skateboarding — if you could name it, he could do it. He believed in “making stuff” and was a consummate creator. He was superhuman in his talents and work ethic. He will be remembered for being prolific, stylish, extremely handsome, funny, quiet, personable, original and an unforgettable friend. He donned a self-imposed brand on his chest that read “T-R-Y.” Matthew was proud that Bernie Sanders said of him, “That guy’s from outer space.” Matthew is predeceased by his father, George Thorsen; his grandmother Alice Miller; his…
Matthew Grant Thorsen was called home to the gates of Valhalla on New Year’s Day 2019, at the age of 51. He passed away peacefully at his home in Essex Junction, Vt., with the love of his life, Diane Sullivan, and his rescue cat Darkness by his side. He was a world-renowned photographer, Renaissance man and masterpiece of humanity whose life and art impacted all who knew him or his life’s work. Born in Point Pleasant, N.J., on October 10, 1967, Matthew traveled to many places, including France, Tibet, China, Nepal and Hanauma Bay, Hawaii, where he asked Diane to marry him with a ring made of raw rubies and meteorites. He enjoyed glam-camping with the “Campers” in the Champlain Islands and traveled the world taking photographs. Matthew has photographed countless people and their moments, documenting and contributing to Vermont’s cultural history. He has taken so many photographs that chances are he took your picture, and you probably had a really good time when he did it. Matt and Diane lived and created many years in the legendary “artist compound” and garden on the corner of Church and Maple streets in Burlington and ultimately made their home the “Minky Manor” in Essex Junction. The thousands of portraits he took never ceased to amaze those who witnessed his work and how he lived. He worked as the lead photographer for Seven Days since the newspaper’s inception in 1995, winning several local, national and international photography awards. Matt was a pioneer of the “selfie,” and he covered every aspect of life and portraiture while documenting the lives of Vermonters. He offered an uncommon, edgy, innovative and revered perspective on our community. Known as Mub, Thor and Thorsen, and called a handsome genius, a crazy uncle and an eccentric weirdo, Matt was capable of everything. He played drums and the harmonica, mastered carpentry, gymnastics, soccer and skateboarding — if you could name it, he could do it. He believed in “making stuff” and was a consummate creator. He was superhuman in his talents and work ethic. He will be remembered for being prolific, stylish, extremely handsome, funny, quiet, personable, original and an unforgettable friend. He donned a self-imposed brand on his chest that read “T-R-Y.” Matthew was proud that Bernie Sanders said of him, “That guy’s from outer space.” Matthew is predeceased by his father, George Thorsen; his grandmother Alice Miller; his…
