By Michelle Beaver
Inside Bay Area (California)
Copyright 2006 MediaNews Group, Inc. and ANG Newspapers
All Rights Reserved
HAYWARD, Calif. — About 500 people paid their last respects Saturday to Councilman Mateo “Matt” Jimenez.
Jimenez, a former fire chief, died Monday at the age of 83.
The day included an emotional funeral and graveside service, and a festive reception at the Hayward fire station that Jimenez loved so much.
Hayward firefighters and police officers formed a motorcade Saturday that would have thrilled Jimenez, said his youngest child, Vail “Vivi” Dutto.
“I just know that if he could have seen it, he would have called me up and said, ‘Look Vivi! They shut down the whole street for your papa!’”
Dozens of uniformed firefighters and police officers attended the ceremonies, and some became teary-eyed.
During the funeral, Hayward Fire Chief Larry Arfsten gave an emotion-packed, but humorous speech that garnered a thunderous standing ovation. Arfsten was a rookie when Jimenez was fire chief, and he listened to his legendary stories for about three decades.
“One day I told (Jimenez) that I found it hard to believe that he had met all these people that he talked about, and that he had all these friends,” Arfsten said, “But obviously, taking a look out here today, he was right and I was wrong.”
“If he was your friend, he was your friend forever,” Arfsten added with a lump in his throat. “He loved the men and women of the Hayward Fire Department. He loved the City of Hayward. And most of all, he loved his family. We all love Matt and we will miss him.”
Jimenez was a man who “lived for others,” said the Rev. Carl Seewald of All Saints Catholic Church.
“People knew they could go to him for help or counsel, whether he was wearing a fireman’s uniform or a business suit,” Seewald said. “You may not have agreed with everything he said or did, but you have to agree with one thing, he was a fighter in the best sense of the word.”
Jimenez’s younger brother and three of his children spoke at the funeral. They recounted long Christmas drives to Mexico, and his many quirks.
“Thank you, City of Hayward, for sending him out a winner,” Dutto said. “He was deeply honored by this last election.”
Friends and family members also crowded the church for an evening vigil on Friday, where speakers told of Jimenez’s personal magnetism, and his escapades in boxing rings, fire trucks and picket lines.
While he was an intensely public figure who sometimes boasted, Jimenez’s life-long relationship to the historic Second Street church and his faith was personal, said the Rev. Steve Mullin. Jimenez often sat toward the back.
“Matt didn’t talk a lot about his faith. He lived it,” Mullin said.
Many speakers called on others to follow in Jimenez’s civic commitment.
“Let’s reconnect,” said Councilman Olden Henson. “Let’s heal old wounds. Let’s go on in Matt’s name.”
Indeed, several of Jimenez’s family members said at the catered fire station reception that Jimenez is responsible for bringing together relatives who were at odds. Hundreds of people chatted warmly, shared stories and pictures in his honor. A slide show of Jimenez’s finest moments was projected onto a wall through the whole event.
Jimenez is survived by his brother, Vern Jimenez; his sisters Dolores Prola and Isabelle Hawkins; his wife of 17 years, Simone Jimenez, four children from his first marriage, and seven grandchildren.
Mateo Jimenez artifacts and information will be on display at the Hayward Area Historical Society for about one week. For more information call (510) 581-0223.