Matthew Jonathon Bennett, 25, a life cut short

Matthew Jonathon Bennett, 25, of Villanova, an aspiring entrepreneur who struggled with addiction for the last 11 years, died Sunday, June 12, of a drug overdose in Baltimore.

Known as Matt, Mr. Bennett was found unresponsive in his car outside a Wawa after leaving a rehab program two days shy of completion. He could not be revived, his family said. The Maryland Medical Examiner's Office said the case was under investigation.

Starting in his early teens, Mr. Bennett's life was a roller-coaster ride, with joyful, creative, and productive times interrupted by steep slides into depression and self-recrimination. It was then that he abused drugs, his family said.

He had called home from his final drug-rehab program - there were many of them - before leaving for Baltimore. " 'Hey you, reaching out, I'm really struggling today. I love you.' Those were his last words to me," said his mother, Nance DiRocco.

"I just wish he could have fought it and won. I miss him. I am so, so sad," she said.

Mr. Bennett was born in Philadelphia and grew up in Wynnewood and Villanova.

As a youngster, he wanted by turns to be a Navy SEAL, a top basketball player, and a concert pianist. None of those panned out, but later, working with a partner, he created an app for the fitness industry.

He enrolled in the Shipley School and was named MVP on the basketball team, but stopped getting taller and quit the team. He went to several schools before graduating from Harriton High School.

He majored in business at Lackawanna College, where he was president of the student body, but didn't finish the course work. When word of his death reached the college, president Mark Volk wrote to the Bennett family to say "how utterly shattered we are."

"Please know that despite his battle, he was respected and loved by everyone here," Volk wrote. "He made a difference here, and we're so glad we had a chance to get to know him."

His mother said that when sober, her son was one of the "most amazing, giving people," doing everything with tremendous energy, but no sooner did he begin to blossom than he sabotaged his own efforts, afraid he wouldn't succeed.

Despite that, he produced a CD of his piano-playing. He organized two college fund-raisers. He worked for a time in a family business. He cooked for friends and was open to everyone.

"He helped so many people, but he could not help himself," she said. "When he was alone and isolated and depressed, it brought him down the foxhole. Because of being addicts, they do things and are too ashamed. He just wanted no more."

Since age 15, he had been at the Caron Foundation for addiction treatment twice and at other drug-rehab facilities. He had special counselors and therapists. Over the 11 years, the family spent large sums of money on his care.

His mother said that by going public with her son's story, she hoped to support other families "that are going through this."

"You've got to know your kid," she said. "You've got to get help from experts and listen to your gut. Don't take any one [piece of advice], but put them all together. You cannot save your kid, but you can help with treatment and getting strong yourself.

"I hope this will diminish the stigma that falls upon the addicts and their families," she said. "This disease touches all walks of life."

In addition to his mother, Mr. Bennett is survived by his father, Dr. John A. Bennett, chairman and CEO of Devon International Group; a sister, Alexandra Bennett; and a niece, Madison Santilli Bennett.

A memorial service will be at 1 p.m. Sunday, June 26, at St. Thomas of Villanova Rosemont Chapel, 1229 Lancaster Ave., Rosemont. Burial will be private.

Memorial donations may be made to the Caron Foundation, 450 Plymouth Rd., #301, Plymouth Meeting, Pa. 19462, or the Beacon of Hope Foundation via http://www.beaconofhopefoundation.com/.

bcook@phillynews.com

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