Portage County obituaries for Aug. 17-18, 2026

Matthew Jabin Secaur, 49, passed away in Toronto, Canada on August 5, 2026 with his family by his side. Matthew was born September 8, 1976 to Jonathan Secaur and Diana Secaur in Kent, Ohio.

Matthew was a graduate of Theodore Roosevelt High School and Kent State University. He received a Master’s degree in the History and Philosophy of Religion from Concordia University in Montreal.

While at Kent State, Matt majored in music and enjoyed every facet of it - both in school and out. Though his work life went in a different direction, music was a thread that continued throughout his whole life. From song writing and recording, to his senior recital, to directing several different church choirs, to his love of karaoke, to his beloved Upper Canada Choristers, music was at the heart of who he was and he loved almost every kind of music.

Throughout his time in college, he began to take an interest in technology. Although it was not his major, he learned about various operating systems. He learned through campus jobs, his own curiosity, and an almost instinctive awareness of what would be useful. His ability to learn independently - especially regarding information technology - set him on the career path he followed for his entire life. He had multiple tech jobs across several cities, always learning, always seeming to intuit what was coming next. His last and favorite job was as a Principal Technical Account Manager for Red Hat in Toronto. In recent years he had also begun giving lectures on things so technical his family seldom understood them. He enjoyed teaching and lecturing and we were all so proud of the way he became a leader in teaching highly technical material. His colleagues share how much they will miss his mentorship, his patience, kindness, and compassion. Matt was genuinely someone people wanted to work with and their office will not be the same without him.

He earned his Master’s degree in Montreal, not for any career advancement, but because he genuinely loved to learn and debate about the intersection of religion and philosophy and science. He had a questing mind that wanted to constantly be engaged. He enjoyed that time of learning and continued to use his knowledge to have in-depth conversations about almost anything.

Ten years ago he moved to Toronto and found his real home. It was there he was instrumental in working with a meetup group for people learning English as a second language. In the decade he lived in Toronto, he made and sustained many friendships. Matt’s closest friendships were deep and lasting - they were his found family.

Matt also loved to travel. He traveled solo, with friends, and later with his family. He traveled all over Asia and Europe. He was fluent in Canadian French. He believed that traveling made him more accepting, more well rounded. He was always looking for new places to check out - near and far - just as he continually looked for new intellectual terrain to explore.

He met his wife, Cerila Bilacaol, ten years ago. She transformed his life in the best way. Their devotion to each other was exceptional and Matt’s joy was overflowing, all the more so when Cerila’s daughter, Fiona Ibaseta, joined them in Canada. Matt and Fiona became true father and daughter of the heart. Her love for him, shown by her artistic gifts and cards, meant the world to him and he showed them off whenever he could. Matt’s life was vast and diverse but Cerila and Fiona were at the center of it. They were his foundation and his light.

He leaves his wife, Cerila and step-daughter, Fiona heartbroken by his loss. He also leaves behind both his parents, Jon Secaur and Diana Secaur, to grieve their son. Family who will also miss him includes step-mother Linda Idoine, brother Benjamin Secaur and his wife Kristin Wickless, and brother of the heart Robert Vavra. Matt also leaves his nieces Samantha Secaur and Lilac Secaur. He leaves more family in the Philippines, as well as cousins, aunts, and uncles. He had deep friendships with people who will miss him in the US, in Canada, and throughout the world. Matt touched so many lives.

A Service of Remembrance for Matthew will be held on Saturday, August 22, 2026 at 2:00pm. There will be calling hours from 12pm-2pm with light refreshments. The service will be held at the First Christian Church of Kent on the corner of W. Main and N. Mantua Streets in Kent, Ohio. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada through their website mscanada.ca