Augustine "Gus" Joseph Matson

Augustine Joseph “Gus” Matson, 78, passed away peacefully at his home in Alexandria, Virginia, on December 9, 2024, after a brief battle with cancer. He was deeply grateful for the blessing of 12 years as a lung transplant recipient.

Gus was born on December 1, 1946, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Susan Gillespie and Augustine Matson. After losing his mother as an infant, Gus and his sisters were raised in a large home in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania, with their father; his father’s sister, Ann Welding and her husband Thomas; three cousins; and two additional aunts. He attended Saint Laurence Parochial School, Monsignor Bonner High School, Mount Saint Mary’s College, and earned a degree in accounting from Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia.

Following graduation, Gus worked as a Special Agent with the Internal Revenue Service, later practicing as a Certified Public Accountant in private practice. After moving to Virginia in 1997, he assumed his final career as a computer programmer.

A man who deeply valued community, Gus served in various roles at Saint Andrew’s Parish in Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania, and for decades in the Hollins Hills neighborhood of Alexandria, Virginia, where he volunteered in many jobs, including president of the pool committee, and treasurer and president of the civic association.

Gus is survived by his wife of 37 years, Barbara Liggett, and their daughter, Carly (Nick). He is also survived by his former spouse, Candace, and their children: Christopher, David (Jenny), Peter (Aimee), MaryKate, Kevin, and Susan (Rodney). Gus was a proud grandfather to Liam, Kieran, Emmy, Paige, Carter, JP, Evan, Quinn, Violet, Scott, Amanda, Daniel, Sarah, Owen, and Rose, and welcomed his first great-grandchild, Lily, in 2023. He was predeceased by his siblings Thomas Welding, Joanne Brunelli, and Jeanne Newman, and is survived by his sisters Margaret Ludwig, Rosemary Welding, and Susan Weir.

Gus was proud of his family, cherishing loud and joyous holidays, birthdays, graduations, and weddings with his children and their families. He took great joy in his role as a grandfather and great-grandfather. Gus loved writing, cooking, movies, playing the piano, Democratic politics, Philadelphia sports teams, and cheese steaks. He also had a great laugh. He will be deeply missed.

A memorial gathering will be held after the New Year.