Donald Albert Matera

In the early morning on August 2nd after family had visited and come to say goodbye, with his wife of 47 years by his side, Donald or “Matera” as he was affectionately called by his wife Pat, passed away peacefully after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease.

Donald Albert Matera was born in Islip, Long Island, NY on July 22, 1946 to Albert J. and Barbara (Florence) Crawford Matera. In 1960, when Don was 14, he went to live with his Aunt and Uncle, Abbie and Charles Stewart, in Poughkeepsie, NY where he attended Poughkeepsie High School, graduating in 1964.

Don entered the United States Navy in 1965. He trained as a firefighter for the Navy in 1966 and was then assigned as an engineman on the USS Brumby in 1967. He was promoted to Ships Store Operator in 1969 where he received a Captain’s Commendation for improving ship’s morale. Don was honorably discharged in 1971. After leaving the Navy, Don went to work at Sedgewick Elevator Company in Poughkeepsie before going to work for the New York State Department of Transportation as a Civil Engineer. It took a few years for his young daughters to understand the scope of his work and not tell their friends that their dad drove trains work. And just like any dad that has ever worked on a project, whenever we would drive through areas he’d worked on, he would tell us about the projects that included but were not limited to, Taconic State Parkway improvements, Route 9W improvements, bridge rehabilitations, improving traffic on the Route 9 corridor, etc. We would like to jokingly accuse him of needing to spearhead new projects to improve the “bow-tie” arterial interchanges and traffic circles and he would be happy to know that those projects are now in the works.

In 1977, Don married his best friend, Patricia Armstrong in Hyde Park, NY. Every year on their anniversary, they would echo the sentiment, “What the hell were we thinking?” as they tacked on another year to their solid foundation. They lived in Hyde Park, NY, raising their two daughters. Although Don could sometimes be seen as a tough stoic, he was the first to give in to his daughters whether it was a kitten or puppy (this happened a few times and was not limited to mammals), a trip for ice cream and to go the playground, building us anything we could dream up like a playhouse, loft bed, Barbie condos, and My Little Pony play spaces. We would poke fun at his designs for being supremely pragmatic and not always aesthetic. His response was always the same; “It gets the job done.” There was not a baby or animal that did not feel drawn to Don. He was the main attraction after work at the family daycare that Pat ran out of their home, so quiet and disarming that all the kids followed him around wanting him to read them stories or take them outside. Don, also called Matty, by close friends and family was known as the King of Puns. There was never a missed opportunity to insert a clever pun or dad joke and the groaning by his wife and daughters only encouraged him further. The pun gene continues to this day in his kids and grandkids.

Don did not like to travel, but instead preferred spending his time growing the biggest, juiciest heirloom tomatoes and cucumbers in his perpetually expanding garden. Neighbors and coworkers would become accustomed to being presented with armloads of fresh veggies every summer. Tomato sandwiches and BLTs were their own food group for Don. He could also be found puttering around the garage during many afternoons. We’re still not sure what he did in the garage but we’re certain that the accumulated tools and bits and pieces appreciated being rearranged and regrouped frequently. If you needed a part or tool, there was no doubt that Don would have it at the ready, dug up from his continually growing piles of potentially useful and therefore unable to be discarded “stuff.” Although only some of the “stuff” was transported from NY to SC in a Penske moving truck when he retired, there is still plenty of stuff so if you need something, please come over and check out Don’s garage! Take home a coffee can of wingnuts to remember him by! He was always the first to offer help and would give the shirt off his back to anyone in need whether it be food, treats, or time; he would just be there to help without any want or expectation of thanks or repayment. He did not like to be recognized for his deeds and we’re betting there were even more done than we know about.

Don was an avid hobbyist golfer – the kind known for losing balls and coming home occasionally with bent clubs. He taught his oldest daughter to golf and even volunteered for PGA events as a sign holder traveling hole to hole with the pros. He was able to golf both right-handed and left-handed and enjoyed watching the PGA tournaments every week. It was not unusual to walk through the living room of their home on a Thursday through Sunday in the afternoons and see the cover down on the entertainment center with a post-it note on the front that said, “Dad taping golf” informing us that we were not allowed to use the tv. He never did get the hang of recording digitally on the tv in later years, but his experience recording was carried over to the church by volunteering to record services to send to the members that could not physically be present.

After retiring in 2003 from the New York State DOT, Don and Pat retired to Aiken, SC where ever- pragmatic Don was far enough from the coast to avoid excessive tropical weather. The joke is on everyone else this week, however, as they are now receiving historic records of tropical rainfall now that Don has made his exit. During his time in South Carolina, Don joined and spent much of his time volunteering for St. Paul United Methodist Church in New Ellenton where he was an invaluable resource in helping to build the family life center at the church and serving as a Co-chair for their Board of Trustees, as well as, serving on the Administrative Council and multiple committees. He could also be seen out frequently having lunch with his grandson James and strolling around Home Depot. Don took any chance he had to spend with his six grandchildren. All of them at one time or another swung a hammer next to their Papa while helping with a project, fell asleep on his shoulder, went fishing in the campground pond with him and walked the dogs with their Papa. They were his greatest pride and usually could do no wrong.

Don leaves behind his entire irreverent family who will continue to make jokes at his expense, honor him with the stories that make friends laugh, and share the memories of Don that make others feel like they really knew him. He is survived by his wife, Patricia Matera, his daughters Jill (John) Parisella and Karen (Kevin) Ignaffo, his grandchildren James, Joshua, David, Gregory, Vivianna, and Jackson, his sister Sharon (James) Conway, his niece Kristen, and his cranky but faithful little dog Ollie.

A celebration of life will be held for Don on Saturday morning, October 5th, 2024 at 11 o’clock in the Family Life Center at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in New Ellenton, SC. A covered dish dinner will follow the service. All are invited. 

The family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to Trinity Hospice of Aiken for their wonderful, loving care. If you desire to donate in Don’s memory, he would like donations sent to St. Paul United Methodist Church or Tunnels to Towers Foundation.

SHELLHOUSE - RIVERS FUNERAL HOME. 715 EAST PINE LOG RD., AIKEN, SC