After the sudden deaths of an entire local family due to carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning at their vacation home in New Hampshire on Christmas, the Newton Theatre Company has announced it will honor their memories with a special Monologue Project this spring.
The Goldstein family — Matthew, 52; his wife Lyla, 54; and their children Valerie, 22, and Violet, 19 — were found dead in their vacation home in Wakefield, New Hampshire, on December 25, by police after they did not come to a family gathering, according to New Hampshire State Fire Marshal Sean Toomey.
During a December 27 press conference, Toomey said, “what we believe right now is that there was some sort of malfunction of the gas heating system,” that caused the CO leak.
According to the CDC, “Carbon monoxide (CO) is an odorless, colorless gas that kills without warning. It claims the lives of hundreds of people every year and makes thousands more ill.”
Only Matthew Goldstein’s death has been confirmed as being due to CO, according to Toomey. As of December 27, he said the three women’s causes of death would be confirmed pending blood test results.
Goldsteins in the Newton Theatre Company
Matthew Goldstein had been active in the Newton Theatre Company (NTC) since its founding, performing in many plays over the years, and his daughters were active in many NTC productions, as well.
Melissa Bernstein, Artistic Director and founder of the Newton Theatre Company, emailed a heartfelt tribute about the family on December 29, recalling their artistic contributions over the years.
She said the special Monologue Project honoring the family will be held in the spring in partnership with the Hyde Community Center to “celebrate the lives of these four incredible friends with stories, songs and memories.”
Bernstein recalled Matthew and Valerie Goldstein acting in many shows over the years and praised their abilities. Valerie, a recent Syracuse University graduate, was also involved in three Monologue Projects, co-directing Common Threads: Voices of Asian-American Women and Girls and LGBTQ+ Voices.
“She was an inspirational director, empowering others to share their stories,” said Bernstein.
Matthew, a Brookline elementary school teacher, “had a terrific dry sense of humor and always brought such joy to each production. Matt was the coolest Odysseus ever,” she said.
As a middle school student, Valerie “was the kindest, most adorable Snoopy there could be” when she acted in “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown.”
“One of my favorite memories is directing Val and Matt in Pinocchio together,” recalled Bernstein. “We did it in a commedia dell’arte style — only four actors and many masks. Matt and Val were brilliant.”
She also praised Lyla and Violet who “were always there with enthusiastic support, cheering Matt and Valerie on and enjoying every moment.”
According to WCVB, Lyla Goldstein worked at Microsoft and Violet Goldstein was in her first year at the Rhode Island School of Design.
Bernstein encourages anyone who wants to participate in the upcoming show in honor of the Goldsteins to contact her at melissa@newtontheatrecompany.com
Statement from the Mayor
On December 27, Mayor Ruthanne Fuller issued this statement:
“The hearts of people across Newton are broken by the tragic loss of our neighbors Matthew and Lyla Goldstein and their daughters Valerie and Violet who died of apparent carbon monoxide exposure in New Hampshire. I extend my deepest condolences to the Goldsteins’ family, friends and neighbors. As we say as a measure of condolence in my Jewish faith – May the memory of Matthew, Lyla, Valerie and Violet be as a blessing.
“On behalf of Newton’s Fire Chief Greg Gentile, we gently remind everyone to double-check that their carbon monoxide detectors are in good working order.
“Let’s all give an extra hug to our loved ones and keep the Goldstein family in our thoughts.”
