Donald Bruce Matson

Donald Bruce Matson was Born April 28th 1935 to Stewart Wardell Matson and Margaret alexander. He was the second child of 4 children. His father taught mathematics at San Diego State University. His mom taught at an elementary school having graduated at University of Chicago at age 16 with an English Major. Don started young having a driving license at only 13. A pilot’s license at 14! The youngest glider pilot in the US in 1949. He also was a fisherman deck hand on the commercial and private fishing boats. Later having his own boats. He taught others how to captain their own boats including his Niece Tracy Matson. You had to have a captain’s license to take others out on a boat. He ran a school called Gali School in Point Loma. Quantum the cat was the Mascot. Also during this time him and his wife Nancy taught students English at Global American Language institute which they created in Point Loma. He spoke German Fluently by the time he was in Jr. High. And was a brilliant scholar of literature as all you must know. And while doing studies at San Diego State University he met his first wife Dianne Alexander the mother of Stephanie his only daughter who is here today. She had his 5 grandchildren. He also taught English and creative writing at the university of California San Diego. It is one of the world’s leading public universities located in beautiful La Jolla. Another interesting thing he did was ride a bike through India, Norway and Europe! Then he was in the 101st Airborne Rangers at 18 and 19 which was a jump school in Kentucky. As a kid he also was an avid fly fisherman. He taught his brother and his father how to fly fish. They did a lot of that fly fishing in Mission Valley River. His father would tell the youngest brother Douglas Alan Matson who is here today! That he couldn’t come because he would be scalped by the Indians. His last 10 year were spent on a boat called the NIKO. Writing by the water at the shelter Cove.