Mr. Bruno G. Mattei

By Arthur Mattei

 

Bruno G. Mattei,  98,  of Monroe Township, NJ,  passed away on April 28,  2008.

Born June 12,  1909 in Bernardsville,  NJ,   he grew up on Staten Island and lived in Brooklyn and Queens for several years before returning to Staten Island where he lived in Great Kills until retirement.  Following  retirement he lived first in Metuchen,  NJ and then Monroe Township since 1970.

After graduating from Curtis High school,  Mr. Mattei graduated  Summa Cum Laude from the then-City College of NY,   and did his later graduate work at the University of Wisconsin and Columbia University.   Mr. Mattei was not only fluent in many foreign languages,  but was said to have spoken each like a native.   He taught foreign languages in the New York City school system,  first at Port Richmond High School and later at Franklin K.  Lane High School in  Queens and Fort Hamilton High School in Brooklyn,   and then spent the longest part of his career at Tottenville High School,  where he also served as a grade adviser and chair of the foreign language department.  Judging from his students’ performance on the New York State regents exam,  Mr. Mattei was probably the finest foreign language teacher  in the New York City schools in his time,  but  perhaps a far better indicator would be the unforgettable memories of the thousands of students whose lives he touched over the years as extraordinary teacher and caring grade adviser.

Shortly after Mr.  Mattei’s retirement, Mrs.  Mattei  passed away  after a very lengthy illness, and Mr. Mattei moved to Monroe Township,  spending over thirty years at Rossmoor and the remaining  years of his life at Monroe Village.   He then went on to experience a totally new life,  traveling throughout the world and  using his language skills firsthand,  as well as frequenting the cultural offerings of New York City.   While at Rossmoor he also became active in the men’s barbershop chorus,  the Old Guard,  the Italian Club, and the Emerald Society,  but his first love was always his children and his six grandchildren.     While even up to his final days he remained  a veritable storehouse of information on history,  literature,  music,  and art,  perhaps his most defining characteristic was his sense of humor and utter lack of pretentiousness in the face of all his knowledge and talent.

Husband of the late Julia McKeon Mattei,  son of the late Salvatore and Marie Mattei,  and brother of the late  Jules,  Virgil,  Florinda,  and Dolores Mattei,   Angelina Schiavone,  Mae Van Buren,  Olga Grumo, and  Gilda Kempton,  he is survived by a son and daughter-in-law,   Arthur and Jo-Ann Mattei of Lawrenceville,  NJ,  a daughter and-son-in-law,  Annemarie and Ted Keating of New Dorp,  and sisters  Sylvia Andersen of Jackson,  NJ,  and Ann Thompson of East Windsor,  NJ,  a brother,  John Mattei,  of Florida,  grandchildren Jeanne Mattei-Ignas,  John and Jennifer Mattei,  and Cynthia,  Daniel, and Tedd Michael Keating,   three great grandchildren., and several nieces and nephews.  

Funeral services were held at Olivet Presbyterian Church in West Brighton.

Please note: You can email Arthur at: arthurmattei@verizon.net