Donna DeMatteo

Donna DeMatteo of Manhattan’s West Village, passed away peacefully in her sleep on May 31, 2024 after suffering a cardiac episode. She had lived with Alzheimer’s disease for the past 10 years. She was 82 years old. Her caretaker and friend, Joan Murray, sustained Donna with her love, filling her days with dancing, music, walks to the park, reading and prayer.

Albert DeMatteo, Donna’s husband of over 50 years, and the absolute love of her life, predeceased Donna in 2013. They are likely enjoying a drink and some laughs poolside at the Quisisana.

Donna was an incredibly accomplished playwright, having written over 30 plays, with several off-Broadway productions. For many years, she was the Executive Director of the HB Playwright Foundation, where she taught her craft every Tuesday night. Many of her productions were directed by Herbert Berghoff, and starred Uta Hagen.

Her writing explored issues ranging from her own childhood trauma to the emotional dynamic between husband and wife and parent and child. As an Italian American who grew up in Harlem, Donna also explored themes associated with the culture of New York’s Italian American community, addressing homophobia, drug abuse and organized crime.

Donna was a founding member of the National Organization of Italian-American Women. She took great pride in chairing its Scholarship Committee for several years. She delighted, as did the audience, in awarding the scholarships each year to promising young Italian-American women.

Donna is survived by her three children and their significant others, Joseph DeMatteo and Elaine Fuld, Darren DeMatteo and Bonnie Schwartz-DeMatteo, and Drea DeMatteo and Robby Staebler. She is also blessed with six grandchildren: David DeMatteo, Daniel DeMatteo, Alexandra DeMatteo, Noah DeMatteo, Alabama Gypsy Rose Jennings and Blackjack Jennings.

Visitation will be at Frank E. Campbell Funeral Home, 1076 Madison Avenue, NY, NY on June 7, 2024 between 2:00 to 4:00Pm and 6:00 to 8:00PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00AM at St. Ignatius Loyola Church, 980 Park Avenue, NY, NY on June 8, 2024, followed by a burial at Ferncliff Cemetery, 280 Secor Road, Hartsdale, NY.

Donations in lieu of flowers are encouraged:

https://www.hbstudio.org/giving/ways-to-donate/

https://www.alz.org/get-involved-now/donate