Mathew Ryan Lancaster

Mathew Ryan Lancaster, age 28, of Portsmouth, passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday, August 1, 2018 after a swimming accident.Mathew was born in Fall River, MA to Shawn Lancaster and Denise (Davis) Lancaster of Portsmouth.He graduated from Portsmouth High School in 2007 and continued on to the New England Culinary Institute. He learned early on the teamwork of working in a kitchen, first washing dishes at the Sportsman in Portsmouth, then quickly learning his way through the different roles in the kitchen. He added to his culinary education early with the Rogers HS Culinary training program while in high school. He followed his dream and began working at well established restaurants in Boston, most recently at Hopewell Bar and Kitchen in Allston. As a young kid, he enjoyed baseball and skateboarding, and he loved going to Red Sox games while living in Boston and watching it on TV. He was always a positive person, he enjoyed a good joke, but treasured his family and friendships the most.Mathew is survived by his parents Denise and Shawn Lancaster of Portsmouth, his sister Jessica Lancaster of Riverside, RI, and many aunts and uncles, cousins, and his dear goddaughter Bella Davis.He was preceded in death by his grandparents Evelyn and Francis Davis, and Claudia Lancaster.Calling hours will be held Tuesday, August 7, 2018 from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Connors Funeral Home, 55 West Main Road, Portsmouth.Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, August 8, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 9:30 a.m. at St. Joseph's Church, Broadway, Newport.Memorial donations may be made to St. Joseph's Church Soup Kitchen, 5 Mann Avenue, Newport, RI 02840.