Robert J. Mattick

September 30, 2012

Robert J. (Bob) Mattick passed away quietly, early this past Sunday morning, September 30, 2012, in Rochester N.Y.

Bob was born August 5, 1922, in Wilkes-Barre, son of the late Anthony and Ethel Mattick. Bob grew up in Parsons, with his brother Tony.

After James M. Coughlin High School, Bob joined the U.S. Army, spent several years training troops stateside, and then served 11 months in France and Germany. He was wounded and received a Purple Heart during the Hurtgen Forrest Battle in February 1945.

After the war, he met Anne Donohoe, a registered nurse he hired to help care for his ailing mother. They were married October 28, 1950.

Bob and Anne spent most of their married life in Buffalo, N.Y., where Bob worked for the Delaware Lackawanna and Western Railroad, which became the Erie Lackawanna Rail Road, retiring from Conrail in 1980.

Bob and Anne raised four sons. The family camped most of each summer while the children grew up. Bob loved to fish. While the boys were young, the family made an annual fishing trip to Lake Nippasing, Ontario, Canada. They were enthusiastic members of the Thundering Herd Camping Chapter of Buffalo N.Y., and Bob's clear voice could often be heard from camp fire sing-a-longs.

They were devoted parents and supported their boys' athletic, musical and educational pursuits. Bob and Anne attended hundreds of football games, swim meets and music performances. One of Bob's goals was that each of the boys finished college and he saw that to fruition in 1981.

When the last son finished college, Bob and Anne bought a van and drove around the U.S. for several years, visiting children and relatives, and seeing the country. They eventually settled in the Florida Keys during the winters, where Bob continued to enjoy fishing, returning to New York in the summers.

Anne passed in February, 2011. Bob is survived by his four sons, Robert J. Mattick and his wife, Therese, and their daughter, Kathleen, Rochester N.Y.; John A. Mattick and his wife, Donna, and their son, Nicholas, and daughter, Sara, Nashville, Tenn.; Michael J. Mattick and his wife, Vicki Shaw, and his daughter Molly and son, Alex; daughter Rose Peck and her husband, Joe, their children, Stella and Henry, Eugene, Ore., William A. Mattick, his wife, Karen, and sons Ben and Dan, Littleton, Colo.

Bob is also survived by family in the Wilkes-Barre area, nephew, Tony Mattick Jr.; nieces, Sheila Kulikowich, Sharon Solinski and Mara Dryfoos. Bob is also survived by relatives and close friends on Anne's side, including cousin, Sally Anne Healey, and her partner, Mary Scheib; Jimmy Healey and his wife, Beth; Margaret Goodsir, Mary Moran and close family friend Eleanor (Norsie) Klein.

Bob lived his life large and well and much on his own terms.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Monday at 9:30 a.m. at the Holy Savior Church, East End section of Wilkes-Barre, with Father Michael Kloton officiating. Interment will be in Sacred Heart Cemetery, Plains Township. Friends may call Sunday from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Corcoran Funeral Home Inc., Plains Township. The family suggests memorial donations be made to the hospice of one's choice. Online condolences may be made at www.corcoranfurneralhome.com.