Harry Mattson Jr.

Harry J. Mattson Jr., 83, died peacefully at home on Wednesday July 1st. He was born and raised in Springfield, son of the late Harry J. and Marion (Klich) Mattson. He graduated from Springfield Tech High School in 1955 and then spent 4 years in the Air Force. While at Tech, Harry played on the 1953 Western Mass High School Championship golf team. He was a 1954 choice for the Western Mass High School All Star Hockey Team as well as the Eddie Shore All Star Hockey teams in 1954 and 1955. He was inducted into the Springfield Public High School Sports Hall of Fame in 2011. In 1964, Harry began his illustrious career as Head Golf Pro of Springfield Country Club which spanned 37 years. He was chosen as CT Section Golf Professional of the Year in 2000 and was inducted into the Western Mass Golf Hall of Fame in 2010. Members at the club were especially grateful for Harry’s organizational and interpersonal skills during the June Invitational. As an annual event, many guests returned year after year. It was the highlight of the season at Springfield CC. Harry’s ability to remember their names and treat each guest as a long lost friend was a quality he was famous for. The growth and development of The Junior Golf Program at Springfield CC was one of Harry’s proudest achievements. He loved introducing young children to the sport of golf with the specific intention of growing the game and making it accessible to all. Taking the shoes off his feet or the shirt off his back was not unusual for Harry if one of his students needed something to play golf. Harry’s greatest passion was mentoring young men who were interested in golf as a career. Not only did they become the new generation of golf pros from New England and beyond, but most importantly they became lifelong friends with Harry. He leaves the love of his life, Maureen Ross O’Connell of Holyoke, his son David Mattson and wife Mary of Concord, NH, three daughters Michele Lawrence and her husband John of Carollton, TX, Jaime Smith and her husband Brian of West Springfield and Robin Sayward and her husband Jay of West Springfield, two brothers Ronald Mattson of Holliston and John Mattson of Ware and 11 grandchildren. The funeral service at West Springfield Curran-Jones Funeral Home will be private. For more information or to make online condolences please go to curranjones.com. Memorial contributions may be made to the Francis Ouimet Scholarship Fund, 300 Arnold Palmer Blvd., Norton, MA 02766.