Friends and family gathered on a chilly winter afternoon to remember 25-year-old Matthew Philip Tenedorio of Picayune, who was killed Jan. 1, during a terrorist attack in New Orleans.
Services for Tenedorio were held Saturday at Audubon Funeral Services in Slidell, Louisiana.
A group of friends gathered outside the funeral home before the service to talk about their friend and comfort each other.
One of his best friends, Kyle Kinler, said the two had known each other since they were children and attended the same schools. They also worked together at various jobs.
“We shared a similar sense of humor, a very inappropriate sense of humor but we understood it,” one of his best friends, Kyle said. “He had a very contagious laugh and smile.”
Matthew Tenedorio, a 25-year-old audiovisual technician at the Superdome and graduate of Pearl River Central High School, was identified as one of the victims killed in the New Year’s Day truck attack on New Orleans’ French Quarter.
Tenedorio and Kinler enjoyed a passion for cars, socializing with friends or “going for a big adventure.”
Kinler was with Tenedorio in the French Quarter celebrating the new year.
“I saw it happen,” he said. “I was like holy s–t, my friends are over there.”
Another close friend, Trey Drennan, said Tenedorio spent a lot of time with Drennan during some of the most difficult times in his life.
Among the hard times, Drennan experienced was a bad breakup, getting laid off from his job and a six-week recovery after a surgery.
Much of the time spent together was communicating while gaming on Xbox, but the two also would spend time together in person, going to Old Towne for Taco Tuesday every week and doing other activities.
“Matthew was a very comforting person,” Drennan said. “We had a very similar sense of humor and the same musical taste. We both loved food.”
Family and friends gathered Saturday at Audubon Funeral Home in Slidell to remember Matthew Tenedorio, one of 14 killed in a New Year’s Day terrorist attack in New Orleans.
Friend Benny Galatas went to high school with Tenedorio at North Shore High School. After reconnecting after college, Galatas and Tenedorio would do things together, hanging out in Old Towne Slidell “almost every weekend” or going to another friend’s bonfires.
“I’m going to miss seeing him,” Galatas said.
Tenedorio was born in Mineola, New York, before moving with his family to the South. He attended Clearwood Junior High School and Northshore High School in Slidell, Louisiana, before moving to Mississippi, where he graduated from Pearl River Central High School in Carriere.
“Matthew’s life was a testament to the joy and passion he brought into the lives of all who knew him,” according to his obituary.
According to his obituary, Tenedorio had a passion for music, gaming and skateboarding with his German shepherd Brutus.
He worked as an audiovisual technician for ASM NOLA at the Superdome and the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans.
“His dedication to his craft ensured that fans and event-goers were immersed in an experience that was nothing short of magical,” his obituary said. “Those who knew Matthew understood that his heart was as big as his smile.
“His ability to light up a room was matched only by his willingness to lend a helping hand to anyone in need.”
Family and friends gathered Saturday at Audubon Funeral Home in Slidell to remember Matthew Tenedorio, one of 14 killed in a New Year’s Day terrorist attack in New Orleans.
Tenedorio’s survivors included his parents, Louis “Lou” Tenedorio and Cathy Colgan Tenedorio, and brothers, Jonathan Tenedorio and Jeremy Tenedorio.
Tenedorio was one of two Mississippians killed in the terrorist attack. Eighteen-year-old Nikyra “Cheyenne” Dedeaux of Gulfport also lost her life. Her funeral was held Friday in Lyman.
President Joe Biden flew to New Orleans on Jan. 6 to meet with the victims’ families and offer them comfort.
Family and friends gathered Saturday at Audubon Funeral Home in Slidell to remember Matthew Tenedorio, one of 14 killed in a New Year’s Day terrorist attack in New Orleans.
Gov. Tate Reeves ordered the Mississippi state flag to be flown at half-staff to honor the two victims from Mississippi.
The suspect in the New Year’s Day attack, Shamsud Din Bahar Jabbar, plowed the truck into the crowd before opening fire. He killed 14 people before he was shot to death by police during the incident.
Lici Beveridge is a reporter for the Hattiesburg American and Clarion Ledger. Contact her at lbeveridge@gannett.com. Follow her on X @licibev or Facebook at facebook.com/licibeveridge.
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Matthew Tenedorio remembered by family, friends