Matthew Anthony Ortega Matthew Anthony Ortega passed away on July 9, 2021, at his home in Phoenix. Matthew was born on Sept. 4, 1968, in Holbrook. Memorial services will be held with a Rosary at 10 a.m. on Saturday, July 31, at San Rafael Catholic Church in Concho, followed by a graveside service at the Concho Catholic Cemetery, where he will be buried alongside his beloved mother, Bettina. Matthew graduated with honors from Holbrook High School in 1986. He was active in both athletics and academics being a co-captain of the football team on several occasions and serving as the senior class president of his graduating class. Matthew represented Arizona in the National American Legion Oratorical Contest his senior year taking seventh place in the state in Academic Decathlon. He received many medals and awards as a member of the Holbrook High School Speech and Debate Team. Matthew went on to attend Arizona State University as a recipient of the ASU Four-Year Leadership Scholarship. He was elected student body president during his senior year, as well as homecoming king and graduated magna cum laude in 1990. Upon graduation, Matthew worked as an intern for the California State Legislature in Sacramento, Calif. Following his year-long internship, Matthew returned to Arizona to work as the Director of Government Relations for the Maricopa Community College system. During Matthew’s prestigious career, he also served as the associate executive director for public affairs for the Arizona Board of Regents, assistant to the executive director for the Valley Metro Regional Public Transportation Authority, and the director for intergovernmental relations for the Town of Gilbert. At the time of his death, Matthew was the vice president of government affairs for the West and Southeast Valley Realtors Association, Inc., representing more than 10,000 realtors throughout the greater Phoenix metropolitan area. Matthew had a love for anything Star Wars, going to Harkins for a movie, or having lunch at Suzy’s Cafe. He loved jazz music, art, and his rescue cats. He was fond of one specific kitten he named Bushy. Matthew will be greatly missed by his siblings, nieces and nephews, including brothers, Thomas Ortega (Robert, Michael, Jennifer and Kimberly) and David Ortega (Cera, Hope, Bettina, and Katelyn); sisters, Cindy Ortega (Elizabeth, Nicholas, Faustino, and Santino) and Mary Ortega (Andrew, Daniel, and Suzanne). He always considered his niece, Elizabeth, as a younger sister and was very fond of his grandnephews Noah and A.J., grandnieces, Abby and Addy, as well as his lifelong friend and mentor, Sarah Smithson. Matthew was preceded in death by his parents Antonio Ortega of Phoenix, and Bettina Ortega of Holbrook; and nephews, Urias Ortega, Angel Martinez and Ethan Brown. Greer’s Mortuary of Winslow handled the arrangements.
