Mitford McLeod Mathews III

Age 73, passed away at The Pines of Mt. Lebanon on Friday, January 30, 2026, after a battle with cancer.

Born in Washington, D.C., on March 10, 1952, Mitford, also known as Mit, was raised in Silver Spring, Maryland. He was the first son of the late Mitford McLeod Mathews, Jr. and the late Georgina Hammond Mathews. Mit never married and did not have any children. He was the beloved brother to Richard D. (Patricia C.)  Mathews of Ellicott City, Maryland and sister Louise Mathews (Thomas F.)  O’Boyle of Mount Lebanon, Pennsylvania; loving nephew of Diane Hammond Wick of Huntsville, Alabama and Julia Mathews of Novato, California; dear uncle of Brendan M. (Denise P.) O’Boyle, Cara O. (Benjamin J.) Webster, and Erin O. (Scott T.) Westgate, all of Mount Lebanon. He is also survived by four grandnieces and three grandnephews.

Mit was a resident of Rockville, Maryland at the time of his death, where he had resided for more than 30 years. A former auto mechanic, he had great aptitude for fixing anything mechanically. Mit later worked at Cabin John Ice Skating rink in Montgomery County, Maryland.  In the 1990s he started as a rink guard and later he worked as a Manager on Duty and Zamboni driver. He stopped working when he got sick.

Among his hobbies, Mit loved ice skating and cracking jokes. He had an extensive collection of vinyl records, and loved contemporary music of all sorts, especially from his childhood and adolescence in the 1950s and ’60s. He also enjoyed listening to his records in his free time. Mit was also the photographer of the family. After his mother gave Mit a video camera in 1990, he chronicled many family events such as Christmas, Jumonville Family Week, birthday parties and even the family trip to Alaska! His family is thankful for the recorded memories.

Mit’s happy place was the annual Family Week at the Jumonville Camp & Retreat Center in Hopwood, Pennsylvania, held each July. He attended there for over 30 years and was a fixture at Family Week and loved by all. Children particularly loved his spot-on imitation of the Bullwinkle moose character from the Rocky and Bullwinkle cartoon. His playful demeanor and the ability to make anyone laugh was cherished by many, especially children and friends. 

Family and friends are welcome on Saturday, March 28, 2026, at Laughlin Cremation and Funeral Tributes, 222 Washington Road, Mount Lebanon, PA 15216, where everyone will gather at 10:00 a.m., until the time of the Memorial Service at 11:00 a.m. Mit will be laid to rest in the Memorial Gardens at Jumonville at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions be made to Family Week of the Jumonville Camp & Retreat Center. Jumonville Camp & Retreat Center, 887 Jumonville Rd., Hopwood, PA 15445. (724-439-4912).

www.laughlinfuneralhome.com

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Mitford McLeod Mathews III, please visit our floral store.