Obituary of Mathias Rockwell Shaner

Mathias "Matt" Shaner, 44, of Sewickley, Pennsylvania, passed away unexpectedly in Key Largo, Florida. His family, friends, and colleagues are devastated by his sudden death. Larger-than-life, Matt was loved by many and will be greatly missed by all.

Matt was born in Bolivar, NY to Ellen and Lance Shaner on November 24, 1979. The eldest of three, precocious and a natural leader, Matt enjoyed an idyllic childhood in Bolivar, organizing outdoor activities with siblings, cousins, and neighborhood friends. The family moved to State College, PA when Matt was 13, where he attended State College High School, worked multiple jobs, and became a member of the State College High School football team. Later, Matt attended Kiski Prep and went on to study History at the Pennsylvania State University. While a student at Penn State, Matt joined Phi Kappa Tau, and co-founded the youth charity soccer tournament Kicks-4-Kids with his fraternity brothers in 2000. After leaving Penn State, Matt worked for Senator Rick Santorum in Washington, D.C., making many personal and professional connections before returning to State College to work for the family business, where he met his wife, Andrea.

Pursuing his political passion, Matt acted as the Pennsylvania Chairman for President Bush's 2004 re-election campaign, played a constructive role in the election of Senator Patrick Toomey, and mounted two personal campaigns in bids for the offices of State Representative, and United States Congress.

Determined to carve a niche in business for himself, Matt founded Shaner Investments, L.P. in 2006, building three Marriott hotels over the next five years. As Matt's company grew, so did his family, as he and Andrea, welcomed three beautiful children: Grace, 2003; Rose, 2005; and Lance, 2008. In 2009, Matt partnered with his father and Lynn Swann, to debut the Pittsburgh Power, a professional football team that played in the Arena Football League. The Pittsburgh Power's four successful seasons were a credit to Matt's leadership, energy, and determination.

Matt also served on the board of directors for the Pennsylvania Tourism and Lodging Association, the Pennsylvania Chamber of Commerce, Slippery Rock University, and the Penn State Quarterback Club. Matt served on leadership boards for the Pennsylvania Republican Party and the Pennsylvania State University Hotel Management school, belonged to the Pennsylvania Society and Duquesne Club.

Vivacious and always looking for adventure, Matt lived every minute of his life, to the full. Matt had many talents and hobbies, and greatly enjoyed working on his pilot's license, boating, fishing, cooking, gardening, running, skiing, golfing, swimming, putting on dazzling firework displays, and, of course, attending football games. Anyone who knew Matt, can tell you about his love of football, and extensive knowledge of the game. Matt will be remembered for his unfailingly positive outlook on life, self-deprecating sense of humor and his enthusiasm for action.

Despite his many talents and accomplishments, Matt will be remembered with deep respect by his wife and children for his unassuming, tenacious, take-nothing-for-granted approach to his work and pleasure pursuits. Notorious for his low-cost maintenance solutions to household repair projects, Matt instilled an independent and resourceful mindset in his children. His legacy will eternally resonate in his mantra, "we will make it work". Matt, we love you, and will cherish your memory, always.

Mathias is survived by his wife, Andrea; daughters, Grace and Rose, and son, Lance; parents, Lance and Ellen; brother and sister-in-law, Justin and Monica; sister, Sarah; nieces and nephews, Sophia, Brooke, Hunter, Owen and Elle; aunts and uncles, Ellen, Jayne, Fred, Dan and Mark; cousins, Kathleen, Patrick, Genevieve, Brendan, Brian, Francine, Olivia, Shauna, Janel, Meaghan, Alyn, Jessica, Rebecca, Daniel, Marjorie, John, Nicole, Christopher, Steven, Matthew, and Michael.

Visitation will be held on Friday, January 12, 2024, from 2:00pm-5:00pm, at Koch Funeral Home in State College, PA. A memorial service in celebration of Matt's life will be held on Saturday, January 13, 2024, beginning at 9:00am, at Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church, in State College, PA.