In 1930, Matthew’s Grandfather Hanly built one of the first camps on Biscay Pond, beginning an intergenerational family love affair with life on Biscay. Born and raised in South Portland, Matthew spent summers at his family’s camp. He purchased his own camp in 1995, eventually renovating it to become a year-round home on the edge of the Pond and fulfilling his lifelong dream when he moved there permanently in 2009.
Matthew is a 1979 graduate of Bowdoin College and in 1983 received his Master’s Degree in Counseling and Consulting Psychology at Harvard University. Following this, Matthew spent 30 years in Independent Schools in New Jersey, Michigan and Oregon, including 15 years as Head of School at University Liggett School in Grosse Pointe, Michigan. As Head of School, he focused his energies on effective governance, fundraising and strategic planning. In addition to serving as a board member for the Council for Spiritual and Ethical Education, he served as President of the Association of Independent Michigan Schools, and held volunteer leadership roles within the regional (ISACS) and the National Association of Independent Schools.
Upon his return to Maine in 2009, Matthew became a full-time volunteer. He served as a founding member of the Bremen Broadband Committee and the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Citizen’s Advisory Committee. He currently serves on the Great Salt Bay (RSU 48) School Committee and as a member of the board of the Frannie Peabody Center in Portland.
Matthew is married to Gregory Hardison and has two children and three grandchildren who represent fourth and fifth generation Biscay Ponders. It is important to Matthew that Biscay Pond and the entire region be environmentally protected so that others may enjoy the peace and beauty his family has enjoyed since first settling in the region in the late 1700s.
