Lauren’s Story

My name is Lauren Matthews and I had the privilege of knowing and loving Maury Magids, whose presence touched my life in unforgettable ways.

I was first introduced to Maury in 2011 when I was just 10 years old. From my earliest memories of him, his playful spirit and ability to make everybody laugh stand out to me. He was truly the life of the party, livening every room he entered. My mom and Maury dated for several years before getting married in 2016. During these years, I got to form a bond with not only Maury, but also his 3 amazing children - Will, Brooke, and Marin. They quickly became family and from very early on, life felt complete with them in it.

Every Sunday, we would attend church and, without fail, filled the same 8 spots on the front row. Maury was brought into our lives for many reasons, one of the most important was to demonstrate to us the strength and depth of a relationship with Christ. Maury truly embodied the love of the Lord so much. He was actively involved in our church and loved putting on worship music whenever he got the chance. Through his unwavering faith, Maury left a huge impression on our hearts, reminding us every day how strong the love of God is.

After he passed, it was incredibly hard to understand how someone with such deep love for his family and the Lord could face something like this. At the time, I had been in Utah for several months, and was scheduled to come home on February 12, 2019, the day after his passing. Being states away from my family and missing out on the last nine months with him, including the chance to say goodbye, filled me with overwhelming sadness and guilt. The day before he died we had spoken on the phone, and he was eagerly talking about my return and how we were going to celebrate when I got home. Maury and I shared a bond that was evident to everyone around us. Not only was he my stepdad; he was a true friend, constant supporter, and a powerful source of encouragement in every aspect of my life.

In a note he left to my sister and me, at one part he writes, “I will be looking down from above, so proud of each of you. Stay true to yourself, don’t get caught in the B.S., and stay real. Please remember me. I will never forget you.” I often think about these words and hold onto his advice, using it as a guide to stay true to myself each day. His words encourage me to live with purpose and to honor him by being my most genuine self.

I am beyond grateful that I had the honor of experiencing part of my life with a man like Maury as my stepdad. People that amazing are often hard to come across, and I will forever cherish the memories I got to share with him and his three most amazing blessings he brought into my life — Will, Brooke, and Marin who will forever be my family. Words can’t describe how insanely proud I am of these three. Having to go through such a devastating loss at such a young age filled with so many unknowns is a challenge no one should have to face. However, they continue to show me how much strength people can truly have, and even though they are younger than me, I look up to them more than they know. I am excited to see how the Maury Magids Foundation will work to improve the lives of families who are experiencing the most difficult times. I know Maury’s legacy will continue to shine through the kindness and love that he shared with all of us.