12/03/2025
It is heartbreaking to hear of Matt’s passing. He (and his brother and dad) were some of my first customers… he brought me a water color painting his kid made and we put it on his ribs! It was my first water color tattoo and his first rib piece- quite the memory! He made positive impact with the people he knew and the community. Rest in peace Matt. You will be missed by many💔
CenterPointe and the City of Lincoln suffered a tremendous loss with the passing of our colleague and friend, Matt Martinosky, on Sunday.
Matt served as our Assistant Director of Community Response, but his journey with CenterPointe began as our very first Street Outreach Worker. From the beginning, he embodied what it means to meet people exactly where they are—whether they were coworkers or the individuals we serve—and to offer dignity in their darkest moments.
Thanks to Matt and his partnership with Melissa Ripley, Lincoln now has the Alternative Response program with the Lincoln Police Department. He also grew CenterPointe’s Street Outreach program into what it is today: a lifeline for our unsheltered neighbors, offering not only tents, sleeping bags, hand warmers, and bug spray, but—more importantly—connection, trust, and hope.
Yesterday, our employees gathered with members of Matt’s family to mourn, remember, and share stories. A theme emerged again and again: Matt SAW you. He genuinely saw people for who they were and loved them because of it.
Matt was a bit like a Sour Patch Kid—sour at first, but sweet at his core. He loved with his whole heart and always made room for people no one else would. He loved music, animals, and, of course, breaking the rules—not for the sake of rebellion, but to make space for someone who had been excluded. He used colorful language and somehow managed to become the exception to nearly every rule I’ve ever made as a professional.
Matt spent more than a decade as part of CenterPointe, and his loss will ripple across our organization, our community, and our city for years to come.
This next part may seem inappropriate, but if you knew Matt, you’ll understand. He once told me, “You better not F*** up my legacy” (and yes, he used the actual word). So, to avoid being haunted, here’s what I know he’d want:
If you loved Matt, do something to support the work he cared about so fiercely. Donate to an organization serving people who are unsheltered—CenterPointe included, though he certainly wouldn’t require it. Buy a tent and give it to a shelter. Provide someone a meal. Make food for a neighbor who just lost their SNAP benefits. Drop off gently used coats, hats, gloves, and boots at an organization that needs them. Say hello to someone flying a sign, or at the very least, acknowledge their humanity.
In these small acts of kindness, Matt’s legacy lives on.
-Tami Lewis-Ahrendt, CenterPointe CEO