Industrious young man had a vision for a self-sufficient rural lifestyle
Matthew Christopher Caulo died tragically on August 8, 2021, on his property in South Royalton, Vt. He was 29. Matthew was born on December 29, 1991, in Burlington, Vt., to John and Debra Caulo, the youngest of three boys. In 1999, the family moved to Norwich, Vt., where Matthew graduated from Hanover High School in 2010. He attended Concordia University in Montréal before graduating from Champlain College in 2016. Although Matthew was born in Burlington and spent his childhood in Norwich, he called South Royalton his home. Matthew had long admired the lifestyle and work ethic of rural Vermonters. He trusted his instinct and, sight unseen, purchased an overlooked property in South Royalton in early 2020 while living in New Orleans. In short order, he moved back to Vermont to live an independent, self-sufficient lifestyle. At the time of his death, Matthew was in the process of clearing the five-acre woodlot along the Broad Brook to execute his vision: to construct a tiny home using felled lumber from the land. However, a persistent 10-year battle with depression ultimately prevented the dream’s realization. The South Royalton community embraced Matthew, in whom they recognized a friendly and industrious young man with a positive vision for stewardship of the land. Several neighbors and shopkeepers have individually told the family stories of Matthew’s good nature and ever willingness to provide them help of any kind. Matthew was also a man of seemingly unlimited interests and ideas. He would joke that he had a PhD from YouTube University and learned a variety of electrical, mechanical, musical, woodworking and carpentry skills that he applied with precision and poise. A talented and creative cook, Matthew also composed and played music; built musical instruments, wrote poetry, and brewed both beer and hard cider. A voracious reader, Matthew could engage in deep conversations on philosophy, politics, music, truth and beauty, often with a former professor and friend who described Matthew as having a “beautiful mind.” Behind the positive and assertive exterior, however, was a darker personality periodically clouded by self-loathing and remorse. In many ways, Matthew embodied the purest definition of “righteous”: He held himself, and others, to a moral code of conduct that was difficult to achieve, let alone maintain. With the help and unending love of his brothers, Matthew was recently making progress with the concepts of redemption and forgiveness, not only for others but for…
Industrious young man had a vision for a self-sufficient rural lifestyle
Matthew Christopher Caulo died tragically on August 8, 2021, on his property in South Royalton, Vt. He was 29. Matthew was born on December 29, 1991, in Burlington, Vt., to John and Debra Caulo, the youngest of three boys. In 1999, the family moved to Norwich, Vt., where Matthew graduated from Hanover High School in 2010. He attended Concordia University in Montréal before graduating from Champlain College in 2016. Although Matthew was born in Burlington and spent his childhood in Norwich, he called South Royalton his home. Matthew had long admired the lifestyle and work ethic of rural Vermonters. He trusted his instinct and, sight unseen, purchased an overlooked property in South Royalton in early 2020 while living in New Orleans. In short order, he moved back to Vermont to live an independent, self-sufficient lifestyle. At the time of his death, Matthew was in the process of clearing the five-acre woodlot along the Broad Brook to execute his vision: to construct a tiny home using felled lumber from the land. However, a persistent 10-year battle with depression ultimately prevented the dream’s realization. The South Royalton community embraced Matthew, in whom they recognized a friendly and industrious young man with a positive vision for stewardship of the land. Several neighbors and shopkeepers have individually told the family stories of Matthew’s good nature and ever willingness to provide them help of any kind. Matthew was also a man of seemingly unlimited interests and ideas. He would joke that he had a PhD from YouTube University and learned a variety of electrical, mechanical, musical, woodworking and carpentry skills that he applied with precision and poise. A talented and creative cook, Matthew also composed and played music; built musical instruments, wrote poetry, and brewed both beer and hard cider. A voracious reader, Matthew could engage in deep conversations on philosophy, politics, music, truth and beauty, often with a former professor and friend who described Matthew as having a “beautiful mind.” Behind the positive and assertive exterior, however, was a darker personality periodically clouded by self-loathing and remorse. In many ways, Matthew embodied the purest definition of “righteous”: He held himself, and others, to a moral code of conduct that was difficult to achieve, let alone maintain. With the help and unending love of his brothers, Matthew was recently making progress with the concepts of redemption and forgiveness, not only for others but for…
