Matt Haley: A fitting farewell to a true Renaissance man

It seemed fitting that one of the songs played during the celebration of life ceremony for Matt Haley was Joe Cocker's “With A Little Help From My Friends.”

It was that long list of friends – along with family members and colleagues – who gathered Sept. 28 under a bright blue sky to say farewell to a man who not only turned his life around, but worked tirelessly to help others around the globe.

Videos and music from local musicians playing some of Haley's favorite songs highlighted the touching ceremony.

Friends described Haley as a complex and unique man – and that's an understatement.

“He was a once-in-a-lifetime gift to our community,” said Gov. Jack Markell, who honored Haley with the Order of the First State, the state's highest honor. Markell and his wife, Carla, presented the award posthumously to Georgianna, Haley's mother, who was sitting in the crowd of nearly 2,000 people at the Freeman Stage near Fenwick Island.

Haley, 53, died Aug. 19 from injuries suffered in a motorcycle accident in India. He was on a six-week humanitarian mission in that country and Nepal.

Markell said during a recent vacation in Lewes, he and his family were on a mission to eat at each of Haley's eight coastal Sussex County restaurants. “We were honored that he joined us for two of those meals,” Markell said.

Markell said Haley shared his story of overcoming addiction and emerging from prison a changed man. “Humility was the key to his recovery and serving others was his true gift. He changed everyone he met with his generosity,” the governor said.

“Dwelling on our loss is not honoring Matt's legacy,” he said, adding that realizing our potential to love and serve others is the way to honor Haley's legacy.

Starting to turn his life around

At the age of 29 – after years of drug abuse – Haley ended up in prison. “I pleaded with the judge to lock me up,” he said in a video interview played during the service.

After four years he was released from prison and started his career in the restaurant business in the Washington, D.C. area, ending up in the Cape Region in 2000. “The restaurant industry was the only place that would give me a chance when I got out of prison 20 years ago.”

Haley was devoted to giving others second chances. One of those who benefited from his philosophy was business partner and close friend Scott Kammerer.

Kammerer, president of chief operating officer of The Matt Haley Companies, has worked with Haley since he started in the Cape Region restaurant business 14 years ago. “He told me he wanted to take over the world one restaurant at a time,” he said.

“He taught me to not wait until tomorrow; do it today and don't settle for good. Always try to be great,” he said.

He said he met Haley on the steps of Epworth U.M. Church when he was in his 20s. He said he had a plan for me. “He loved me before I loved myself,” Kammerer said.

Kammerer said Haley was constantly asking his employees if they were out or in – meaning did they buy into his philosophy of seeking greatness and helping others. That's one of the last things Haley asked Kammerer before he left on his trip to India and Nepal.

“Rest in peace Matt Haley; we are all in,” Kammerer said.

A love story unfolds

Michelle Freeman, Haley's girlfriend, had a long list of thank yous before she talked about the man she had fallen in love with.

“He had been here for a long time, and all of a sudden he was different,” she said. She – like so many others – was aware of Haley and his work. He was a member of the board of directors of her family's Joshua M. Freeman Foundation, named in honor of Michelle's late husband who died in a helicopter crash In December 2006.

“I come from a long line of chefs, and I had fallen in love with a chef. He worked magic on my heart, and then I couldn't stop others from coming in,” she said. “Had he asked, he would have been my husband.”

She said he taught her to choose love, tell her story, be brave and take chances. “I wouldn't give back one minute that I shared with Matt Haley even with all of the sorrow of the last month.”

“He was a close, dear friend who would give advice and really listen. He really cared, and it's humility that was one of his greatest traits,” said Bulldog, a deejay with WOCM Radio in Ocean City, Md., who led the service.

“I'm honored to stand here,” said Tommy Haley, Matt's brother. “He loved Delaware, and he loved his community. I only wish he could be standing here to see what I see today. It's a beautiful day.”

“Matt could see success before it happened, said business partner and friend Steve Himmelfarb. “He could imagine what was possible. He showed us by example,” he said.

Bulldog said Haley was a frequent traveler who was not a tourist. “When he went places, he left a mark. Matt lived like a rock star and unfortunately, he died like a rock star,” he said. “Matt told me: 'Don't watch a documentary; live a documentary.' Matt did.”

The crowd stayed after the service to taste food prepared by several restaurants in Haley's honor.

Haley was owner of the So-Del Concepts restaurant group, Plate Catering, a restaurant management company with Kammerer, a film company and had interests in a brewery and winery. He was founder of the Global Delaware Fund, a nonprofit that helps children and people in Delaware and across the world.

This past year, Haley was not only the James Beard Foundation Humanitarian of the Year, he was also named Humanitarian of the Year by the National Restaurant Association and the International Association of Culinary Professionals.