Mattie Stepanek

Matthew Joseph Thaddeus Stepanek (July 17, 1990 – June 22, 2004), known as Mattie J.T. Stepanek, was an American poet (or, as he wanted to be remembered, "a poet, a peacemaker, and a philosopher who played")[1] who published seven best-selling books of poetry and peace essays. Before his death (at the age of 13) he had become known as a peace advocate and motivational speaker.

Mattie J.T. Stepanek
Stepanek in June 2004
Born
Matthew Joseph Thaddeus Stepanek

(1990-07-17)July 17, 1990
Maryland
DiedJune 22, 2004(2004-06-22) (aged 13)
Washington, D.C.

Life and career

Matthew Stepanek was born on July 17, 1990. Stepanek's parents divorced when he was a child.[2] He was raised in Upper Marlboro, Maryland and later lived in Rockville, Maryland.[3] His hero was former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, who described Stepanek as "the most extraordinary person whom I have ever known".[3][4][5][6]

Stepanek suffered from a rare disorder, dysautonomic mitochondrial myopathy. His three older siblings died from the same illness. The condition was unknown until his mother was diagnosed with mitochondrial disease in 1992, after all four of the children had been born.[2]

Stepanek was a poet and speaker, penning six volumes of bestselling Heartsongs poetry books, and a collection of peace essays that also became a bestseller. He was the lyricist for Music Through Heartsongs.[7] The album was produced by Sony, was released in 2003 and performed by Billy Gilman, and which debuted at number 109 on the Billboard 200 and at number 15 on Hot Country Songs.

Death

Stepanek died at age 13 at Children's National Medical Center in Washington, D.C., on June 22, 2004. He was interred at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Silver Spring, Maryland.[8]

Legacy

Shortly after Stepanek's death in 2004, the non-profit Mattie J.T. Stepanek Foundation was established by a group of citizens in Rockville, Maryland where he lived.[9]

In 2008, the We Are Family Foundation hosted the first annual international Three Dot Dash 'Just Peace Summit' based on the message Stepanek offered in his book "Just Peace".[10]

On October 21, 2008, the Mattie J.T Stepanek Park was dedicated in Rockville, Maryland at an event attended by Oprah Winfrey, Nile Rodgers, Billy Gilman and others.[11] Pepper Choplin set words from Stepanek's final peace speech to music, and a 100-voice choir performed the debut of "Look Up Way Down". Central to the park is the "Peace Garden", which was designed based on the peace imagery Stepanek used in his essay book, Just Peace: A Message of Hope. In the Peace Garden there is a life-size bronze statue of Stepanek and his service dog, Micah, surrounded by chess tables.[12] Throughout the park are quotes and soundbites from Stepanek.

On June 6, 2010, a performance of "Heartsongs" took place at Carnegie Hall, featuring Stepanek's poetry set to music by composer Joseph Martin, and performed by a 200 voice combined Children's Choir and other members of the Distinguished Concerts Singers International under the direction of conductor Stephen Roddy.[13]

In 2011, Oprah Winfrey named Stepanek as one of her all time most memorable guests in the 25 year history of her show. During the final studio audience taping, Stepanek's mother and Oprah shared memories of Stepanek, discussed his life story in the "Messenger" book, and Oprah called him "a messenger for our times."

On September 21, 2012, the Feast of St. Matthew the Apostle, the Mattie J.T. Stepanek Guild was officially initiated. The purpose of the Guild is to gather information and investigate Stepanek's life for the possible Cause of Canonization in the Catholic Church. In 2013, the National Catholic Partnership on Disability posthumously honored Stepanek with the Youth/Young Adult Leadership Award. On June 22, 2014, a Memorial Mass at the Franciscan Monastery in Washington, D.C. commemorated Stepanek's ten year death anniversary. It was con-celebrated by several priests from the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C.

At the behest of the Mattie J.T. Stepanek Foundation, in 2013, Barbara Mikulski, a United States Senator from Maryland, sent a letter to US President Barack Obama, wanting to declare July 17 (Stepanek's birthday) a national peace day in Stepanek's honor. In July 2014, Ben Cardin, a junior United States Senator from Maryland, joined Mikulski in introducing a House Resolution (#509), which was approved by the Senate and honors Stepanek's life and peace legacy.[14][15] In 2017, the city of Rockville, Maryland voted to declare Mattie's July 17 birthday as "Peace Day" at a local level in perpetua, as a statement of support for the National Peace Day Campaign.

Awards
  • 1999 Melinda Lawrence International Book Award for inspirational written works from the Children's Hospice International, 1999[16]
  • 2004 Nu Skin Enterprises's Nu Skin Force for Good Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award[17]
  • 2007 Independent Publisher's 'Peacemaker of the Year' Award[18]

References
  1. "Mattie Stepanek, 13 - Poet and Inspiration". NY Times/Associated Press. 23 June 2004. Retrieved 18 Oct 2014.
  2. http://archive.azcentral.com/families/articles/0710muscular0711.html
  3. Oliver, Myrna (24 June 2004). "Matthew 'Mattie' Stepanek, 13; Poet, Peacemaker". LA Times. Retrieved 18 Oct 2014.
  4. "Mattie Stepanek, Singer of Heartsongs". Legacy.com. Retrieved 18 Oct 2014.
  5. https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/inspirational-boy-meets-hero-5354519
  6. http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0204/17/lkl.00.html
  7. "Review - Heartsongs by Billy Gilman". AllMusic.com. Retrieved 18 Oct 2014.
  8. Johnson, Darragh (June 29, 2004). "Celebrating the Courage of Mattie". The Washington Post.
  9. "Our History". The Mattie J.T. Stepanek Foundation. Retrieved 13 March 2017.
  10. "Partners - Three Dot Dash". Youth Award. Archived from the original on 2014-10-19. Retrieved 18 Oct 2014.
  11. "In Memory of Mattie Stepanek, p. 3". Oprah.com. Retrieved 18 Oct 2014.
  12. "In Memory of Mattie Stepanek, p. 2". Oprah.com. Retrieved 18 Oct 2014.
  13. "Houston Children's Chorus Readies for Carnegie Hall Performance". Your Houston News. 3 May 2010. Retrieved 18 Oct 2014.
  14. "Resolution Honoring Life Of Marylander Mattie Stepanek". 22 July 2014. Retrieved 12 March 2017.
  15. "S.Res.509 - A resolution honoring the extraordinary and courageous life of Mattie Stepanek". Congress.gov. Retrieved 12 March 2017.
  16. "Contributor - Mattie Stepanek". Scholastic. Archived from the original on 2015-09-24. Retrieved 18 Oct 2014.
  17. "Mattie Stepanek - Lifetime Achievement Award Winner". Force For Good. Retrieved 2 Sep 2013.
  18. "2007 Independent Publisher Book Award Results". Independent Publisher. Retrieved 18 Oct 2014.
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