Charles Joseph Mattern

MATTERN, Charles Joseph, 58, of Valrico, formerly of New York entered into rest November 13, 2013. Charles was a Senior Programmer Analyst working for over 15 years with Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation. A soccer enthusiast he coached both youth and travel teams, he was a famous griller, loved the beach fancying Montauk, N.Y. and Kauai, Hawaii. A loving husband and father he made friends with everyone he met. He was preceded in death by his father, Joseph and brother, James. Survivors include his wife of 25 years, Karen; sons, Jake, Maxwell, Luke; mother, Ruth; aunt, June Kelly; the Rissland family; and many extended family members. A funeral service will be held 10 a.m. Monday, November 18, 2013 at Hillsboro Memorial Funeral Home. The family will receive friends Sunday from 6-8 p.m. at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to The ALS Association Development Department, 27001 Agoura Road, Suite 250 Calabasas Hills, CA 91301 in Charles' memory.

When someone is identified as a natural leader, certain images come to mind. First thoughts are of a no-nonsense, tough-minded, dedicated and disciplined person. This description accurately fits Charles Joseph Mattern who was indeed a born manager. He will be remembered as being highly organized, practical and realistic. He was a person who always carried a strong sense of duty with him throughout his life. Possessed with traditional “old school” morals, Charles was an individual who clearly communicated to those around him just who he was and what he was all about. Everyone acquainted with Charles knew him as a well-respected man who was a stable force in his community.

Charles was born on July 11, 1955 at Mercy Medical Center in Rockville Centre, New York. His parents were Joseph and Ruth Mattern. Charles was raised in Garden City, New York. Even as a youngster, Charles learned to be objective and decisive. His faith in the principles of authority and dependability was something that he carried with him throughout his life.

As a young boy, Charles was able to put his natural abilities to work. He was a bit like the sergeant of the family, helping to make sure that the others did what they should do and that they avoided those things they weren’t supposed to. In other words, he liked to organize and direct. Charles was raised with one sibling. He had an older brother, James. Charles had an inborn appreciation for the order in the family, allowing for the oldest members to be the most respected and to take on the most responsibility. For Charles, this was a natural order of life, one he gladly embraced.

Charles's matter-of-fact attitude about most things was developed during his childhood. As a young boy, Charles enjoyed being part of teams, and organizations and groups of other kids who shared similar interests. Charles took part in soccer and softball. He was a Boy Scout. In his spare time he liked to collect stamps, coins and buttons.

In school, Charles was as close to being a model student as one could possibly imagine. He sought to achieve perfect attendance in all of his classes. He would eagerly complete his homework, and often put in extra study time when he felt it was necessary. A logical and focused thinker, Charles was always good at following directions and meeting his schedules, whether they were set by his teachers or were self-imposed. Charles’s personal motto could well have been, “Do it right the first time.” He graduated from Garden City High School in 1973. He enjoyed some courses more than others, having favorite classes and teachers. His favorite class in high school was computer class and any math class.

Charles’s practical work ethic carried over into his college years. His logical mind permitted him to work hard without succumbing to the usual distractions of college life. He would tackle an assignment and work through it before moving onto the next project. Charles’s orderly nature gave way to establishing personal study habits and procedures that not only helped him stay on track but often put him ahead of schedule. When Charles saw the need or benefit, he would willingly take on the extra assignment or even attend extra classes in order to learn more and become a better student. He earned his Technical Degree from Grumman and Associates-degree in Computer Business. His favorite courses were Computer Programming courses.

Charles was sociable and approachable. Because he was always so straightforward in how he approached relationships, friends and family knew that what they saw was always what they got. He enjoyed the camaraderie of being with a group of friends. When Charles was a member of a group, his interaction worked to keep the others grounded. He wasn’t afraid to confront his friends and, when necessary, he challenged them to stick to the task at hand. Those close to Charles came to expect his high standards of performance. While growing up, some of his best friends were Mary Kay Wright, Greg Kieninger, Mark Haggerty, Chris Wright. Later in life, he became friends with Barbara and Will Barrier, Bill Racinella, Hector and Tom.

An objective and conscientious individual, Charles reveled in the security of his family. One of Charles’s most endearing qualities was his uncanny ability to remember important dates and anniversaries, and his unending enthusiasm for organizing a celebration for his family and friends.

Charles was ever watchful of his children. He worried about them and was deeply concerned for their development as they grew up. He maintained a firm hand in their upbringing. Charles would give his stamp of approval to their requests, as long as he could see how they might benefit. He also had the ability to enforce the rules as needed to ensure that his children were properly raised. Charles was blessed with three children, three sons, Jake, Maxwell, Lucas.

Being a hard worker who praised efficiency, Charles was always striving to make improvements where they were necessary. He was able to analyze situations and problems, keeping everything and everyone on track. An excellent project supervisor, Charles was a person who could quickly make decisions based on the information available. He worked cooperatively and expected the same from his colleagues. In both his personal and professional environments, Charles upheld his standards. His primary occupation was Senior Programmer Analyst & Technician. He was employed for 17 years by The Depository Trust and Clearing Corp. Charles was a team player who certainly lived out the motto of “give me a job, and I will get it done.”

Charles approached his leisure time in the same manner that he approached his life. A person who enjoyed being neat and orderly and one who understood the nature of things, he appreciated the hours he was able to devote to his various hobbies. His favorite pursuits were coaching soccer. Charles was content to enjoy his favorite pastimes alone but was also willing to share his interests with others.

Playing by the rules was a natural thing for Charles to do in life and that carried over to his enjoyment of sports. In high school, Charles played soccer, softball, and track (hurdles). Recreational sports included softball, soccer, volleyball. He also was something of a sports fan and enjoyed watching his favorite events whenever he got the opportunity. Tops on his list were soccer and football.

Being generous with his time and energy, Charles liked to belong to a variety of groups and organizations. He was a vocal leader who enjoyed being a part of things. His desire to uphold traditions and his ability to take charge of any type of project made him a tremendous asset. Charles was a member of the Soccer Clubs.

As someone who placed a high value on showing gratitude, Charles could graciously accept a “thank you” extended to him by those he helped. However, individual recognition wasn’t a motivating force for Charles; rather, when he saw that there was a need to get something done, he was more than willing to give his time and energy in order to see it accomplished. Some of his most prestigious awards included Business awards from his company.

When it came time to travel or take a vacation, Charles used his scheduling expertise to make sure everyone and everything was ready to go. That also meant that he made certain no single person was overworked in putting the trip together. Charles had a knack for making sure that everyone who was involved had their specific tasks and that those tasks were completed. Favorite vacations included Montauk, New York and Kauai, Hawaii.

Charles was a lover of animals and cherished his pets. His family was rounded out by his two birds named Yankee and Orlando.

Charles passed away on November 13, 2013 at his home in Valrico, Florida. He fought a brave battle against ALS. He is survived by his wife, Karen and three sons, Jake, Maxwell and Lucas. Services were held at Hillsboro Memorial Funeral Home and Chapel. Charles was laid to rest in Hillsboro Memorial Cemetery in Brandon, Florida.

All who knew him would agree that Charles was a pillar of the community. He lived his life with his feet firmly on the ground. He had a strong work ethic, was pragmatic in his thoughts and acts, and constantly sought the means for self-improvement. He was willing to share his ideas and knowledge for the benefit of others, so that they could accomplish more in their lives. Charles Joseph Mattern did his best to ensure that his family, friends, loved ones, co-workers, and everyone whose life he touched was given the chance to become a better person.