Joseph M. Mattei
August 17, 1937 ~ February 18, 2024
Born in:
New Haven, CT
Resided in:
Hamden, CT
Joseph M. Mattei, 86, of Hamden, passed away on February 18, 2024, at Yale New Haven Hospital. He was born in New Haven on August 17, 1937, a son of the late Dominic and Frances (DeMatteo) Mattei. After graduating from Hillhouse High School, he earned a bachelor’s degree from Quinnipiac College. He went on to work at S.N.E.T., where he worked as a computer systems manager for 30 years. His true passion was sports, especially coaching. Joe began his coaching career in the 1960’s, coaching North Haven youth basketball and football and was one of the founders of the North Haven Youth basketball league. From 1990 to 1994, he coached basketball at North Haven Junior High and then North Haven High School as head coach of the freshman team. Joe also coached North Haven Babe Ruth for nine years and was head coach of the North Haven American Legion Post 76 baseball team, where he coached for 30 years, had 440 career wins, received the CT Amateur Baseball Coach of the Year Award in 1987, and was inducted into the American Legion Hall of Fame in 2018. Joe’s American Legion Post 76 baseball teams won seven zone titles and his 1972 team won a State and NE title and advanced to the American Legion World Series in Memphis, TN. From 1988-1996 he was an assistant coach of the Quinnipiac College baseball team, becoming head coach in 1997. From 1997 until 2001, as head coach, he oversaw the transition of the baseball program from Division 2 to Division 1 and received the Northeast 10 Coach of the Year Award after winning the NE-10 Championship. In 2022 he received the CT American Legion Leadership Award and most recently, in 2023, he was inducted into the North Haven High School Sports Hall of Fame. Joe is survived by his sisters, Elizabeth Mikolike and Marietta Mattei, his ex-wife Margaret (Stochmal) Mattei, and several nieces, nephews, and cousins. Besides his parents he was predeceased by his brother-in-law, Frank Mikolike.
A funeral service celebrating Joe’s life will be held on Saturday, February 24, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. in Beecher & Bennett Funeral Home, 2300 Whitney Ave., Hamden. Friends may visit with his family from 9:30-11:00 a.m. before the service. Interment will be held in All Saints Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, gifts in memory of Joe can be made to the Joseph M. Mattei Endowed Scholarship for Baseball at Quinnipiac University. Please visit www.qu.edu/give or send donations to Quinnipiac University Office of Development & Alumni Affairs, 275 Mt. Carmel Ave., Hamden, CT 06518.
Services
Visitation: February 24, 2024 9:30 am - 11:00 am
Beecher & Bennett Funeral Service - Hamden
2300 Whitney Avenue
Hamden, CT 06518
203-288-0800
Funeral Service: February 24, 2024 11:00 am
Beecher & Bennett Funeral Service - Hamden
2300 Whitney Avenue
Hamden, CT 06518
203-288-0800
I have known Joe Mattie for 40 years, he was a class guy, he always gave of himself to benefit others, His volunteer hours for the development of our youth will never be matched by anyone else. Joe cared about everyone.
You will be missed
Charlie Flanagan, GM Post 76 Baseball
To the family and friends of Joe my deepest condolences. I am sad to see that he has passed. I have so many memories of Joe from my younger years; as North Haven Little League and Babe Ruth League competitor against his teams (which were always top teams), eventually as a player on his Post 76 American Legion team for a number of years culminating with the ’72 team that went to the Am Legion World Series in Memphis, Tenn., as North Haven adult recreational basketball referee, as family friend who used to occasionally visit for a chat and a drink with my parents, as chaperone for some trips into NYC or up north in a hunting lodge with team mates.
Joe was always way early for games and last to leave. Loved the competitive environment and always played to win, but also always positive. Made sure we had everything we needed to compete. Thank you Joe for all you meant to me and the rest of my family, as well as a large number of my old teammates. May you Rest in Peace
Steve Matthew
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I had the pleasure of playing for coach as a youth, a high school player, an American Legion player and finally at Quinnipiac. He was always there to lend his support to me on and off the field. I remember him fondly for not only his commitment to the game but more broadly to the student athletes who played for him. He will be greatly missed. Thank you for being a life long mentor and friend. Rest in peace Coach Mattei.
Deepest sympathies to all family.
Spent a few years with Joe ( 1970 – 1974 ) and his American Legion team. Sounds silly when I say as a bat boy… but I learned so much ( some of it earlier than I should have). Gave me game day duties ( responsibilities) and held me to them. Carted me all over the state ( with Maggie’s assistance). Not sure my parents knew where I was much of the time, but it was ok because I was with Joe.
Learned baseball, how to be around young men, to function as a part of a team, to be responsible to others, some language not taught in school, many life skills that some never learn.
Not unusual for Joe to have shovels and rakes to prepare field after rain to get in a game. A very good coach, passionate competitor.
As an young man, would see Joe at QC as a competitor. Always a warm smile and some kind words. A great mentor and friend.
Rest in Peace.
Joe was a member of the Silver Sluggers, a baseball group that I have facilitated since 2006. Joe never boasted of his many accomplishments. He was very quiet . I learned more about Joe reading his obit than all the years we were together at meetings and baseball bus trips.
On behalf of all the Silver Sluggers, we offer our condolences to the Mattei family. Joe will be greatly missed.
I am so sorry to hear of the recent passing of Joe. I have such great memories of his outstanding guidance as a person and as my Babe Ruth and Legion Coach. It was so much fun joining with him as he was inducted into the North Haven High School Hall of Fame. My thoughts and prayers are with him and his family.
To the Lofberg family, Joe was not only a coach, a mentor, and a kind soul. He was considered to be part of our family. Thank you Joe for the many memories. You will forever be in our hearts. Condolences to the family.
Joe Mattei was a great guy. Over the last 20 or more years, we became very good friends. Covering American Legion baseball games together. He was professional and upstanding and I valued the information he gave to me. Quite simply, I valued our friendship and will miss him very much