Matthew Ornstein ’02

Matthew died Jan. 3, 2015.

Matthew was born July 28, 1980, in Washington, D.C., and graduated from Georgetown Day School in 1998, where he was a national champion debater, a passion he pursued with all his heart. After Princeton, he and his high school debate partner went to Hollywood and sold a TV show called Master Debaters to the National Lampoon Cable Network, which demonstrated Matthew’s keen humor and writing talent.

His love for Princeton was boundless. He ran for class office using the slogan “Vote for Matt Ornstein; He got into Princeton!” Matthew was in Wilson College and Charter Club. He graduated from the Woodrow Wilson School and also satisfied the requirements of the undergraduate program in theater and dance. The time Matthew spent in South Africa on a Princeton semester abroad was one of the happiest periods in his life. Matthew regularly participated in stand-up comedy shows during and after college.

Matthew’s parents, Judy Harris and Norm Ornstein, and brother Daniel Ornstein established the Matthew Harris Ornstein Memorial Foundation to honor Matthew’s remarkable young life. Remembrances of Matthew and donations in his memory are welcome at Mornstein.org.