Matthew Aaron Thibedeau

Matthew Aaron Thibedeau, age 35, passed away on May 20, 2009 at MeritCare Hospital, Fargo, ND after a long battle with Cystic Fibrosis. Matthew grew up in Fargo and graduated from Fargo North in 1992. Despite his illness, he was an accomplished singer, dancer, and actor and was following his career in New York and Los Angeles until his declining health required his return to Fargo in 2005 to be close to family support. Matthew, at age 10, may be remembered by some as the first male member of the FM Acro Team. He began acting and singing at age 13 at the Trollwood Performing Arts School and is especially remembered for his roles as Captain Hook in Peter Pan, Curly in Oklahoma, and as one of the leads in the Trollwood show “Imagine” which was performed in Beijing, Moscow, and Washington, DC and received the United Nations Peace Messenger award. Following high school, he attended the Boston Conservatory of Music and moved to New York City in 1995. During his professional career Matthew appeared in over 30 different musicals. He first appeared with Diahann Carroll in the Toronto production of Sunset Boulevard and later danced and sang with Chita Rivera in the national tour of Casper. Some other favorite performances were Danny Zuko in a South American tour of Grease; and in regional theatre, Jesus in Godspell, Captain Walker in Tommy, Wanenis in Makin’ Whoopie, and Jesus in Jesus Christ Superstar. In New York, Matthew created the role of Ignacio in the Hal Prince workshop of Camilla; and he was The Hero in Disney’s promotional show for the movie Hercules at the New Amsterdam Theatre on Broadway’s Historic 42nd Street. Performing in the world premiers of the Disney films 101 Dalmatians and Mulan gave him the opportunity to appear at Radio City Music Hall and The Hollywood Bowl. Following his return to Fargo he played the role of Zack in an NSDU production of Chorus Line; and for the past three summers Matthew was able to pass along his craft to a new generation of Fargo students by teaching at the Trollwood Performing Arts School. Matthew was preceded in death by his grandparents Gerald and Anna Conoboy of Fargo and C.J. and Norma Thibedeau of Duluth. Matthew is survived by his constant companion, Doobie, and immediate family including his mother, Mary (Galen) Schroeder; his father, Robert (Sue) Thibedeau; and his brother, Paul, all of Fargo. Visitation: Monday, May 25th from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Boulger Funeral Home, 123 – 10th Street S., Fargo followed by a memorial celebration at 7:00 p.m. Funeral: Tuesday, May 26th at 10:00 a.m. at Hope Lutheran Church, 2900 N Broadway, Fargo Internment: Following at a later date at St. John’s Abbey Cemetery, Collegeville, MN Memorials to the Matthew Thibedeau Scholarship Fund For Trollwood Performaing Arts School c/o 801 50th Ave. S.W. Moorhead, MN 56560 www.trollwood.org