Gillette, NJ


Petty Officer 2nd Class Matthew G Kantor, 22, a Navy SEAL, died in Afghanistan, bravely serving our country, on November 1, 2012.

Matthew was born in New York City, NY on August 27, 1990, a son of Mary Jane and Kenneth Kantor, and raised in Gillette, NJ.

Matthew graduated from Watchung Hills Regional High School in June 2008, where he was a member of the Cross Country & Track & Field teams, earning the Coaches Award. He also was on the Fencing team.

He enlisted in the United States Navy on March 9, 2009 and graduated from Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Illinois on May 8, 2009.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Kantor completed Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL School in Coronado, California in May 2010. He served in an East Coast based Special Warfare Unit from May 2010 to November 2012.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Kantor was deployed to Afghanistan at the time of his death and is the recipient of the Bronz Star medal (with ‘V’ device), Purple Heart medal, Combat Action ribbon, Navy Commendation medal, Good Conduct medal, National Defense medal, Afghanistan Campaign medal, NATO medal, Navy Expert Pistol Shot medal and the Navy Expert Rifle Shot medal.

Matthew is survived by his loving parents Mary Jane and Kenneth Kantor, his sister, Alyssa and his brother, Kristopher.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Navy SEAL Foundation, ICO S02 Matthew Kantor, 1619 D Street, Virginia Beach, VA 23459.

A Military Service will be held on Friday, November 9th, 2012 at 10:00 AM at St. Vincent de Paul RC Church, Stirling, NJ. Internment will follow at Fairview Cemetery, Westfield, NJ. Visitation will be Thursday 2:00 to 4:00 PM and 7:00 to 9:00 PM at Valley Memorial Funeral Home, 1012 Valley Rd, Gillette, NJ. For further information and online condolences www.valleymemorialfuneralhome.net.