Robert D. Matava

Robert "Skip" Deegan Matava, 77, beloved father, grandfather, and Corvette enthusiast, passed away at home in Port Orange, Florida, on March 30, 2026, surrounded by his family after a phenomenally courageous battle with cancer over nearly two years.

Born in Hartford, Connecticut, on April 2, 1948, firstborn son of the late Elizabeth Deegan Matava, originally of Bristol, Connecticut, and the late Robert J. Matava, originally of Kearney, Pennsylvania, Skip was born into automotive excitement as the year of his birth coincided with the founding of both NASCAR and Edward Motor Service, a family-owned garage in Unionville, Connecticut, named after Skip’s uncle Edward, a decorated U.S. Marine who killed in action on Iwo Jima in World War Two. Skip’s father instilled in him a love of cars, while his mother shared with him immense pride in being Irish. A 1966 graduate of Farmington High School and 1968 graduate of Prince Tech, where he was trained in tool design, Skip was a resident of Unionville, Connecticut, for nearly seventy years prior to retirement.

Working nights and weekends for his father’s garage business as a mechanic, body man, and wrecker operator, Skip began his own professional career at Apex Machine Tool Company in Farmington, Connecticut, through a state apprenticeship program at the age of sixteen. “Bob”—to his friends in the trade—was a precision toolmaker who worked his way through all levels of the industry from the shop floor to executive management, gaining experience with Bridgeport milling, lathe turning, surface grinding, QC, tool design, the manufacture of plastic injection molds, estimating, and sales. Most of his work was in the aerospace sector and the defense industry supporting companies such as Pratt and Whitney, Sikorsky Aircraft, Kaman, Electric Boat, Colt, Rolls Royce, Airbus, and others. Skip’s professional career spanned more than a half century and reached its “apex” at Whelen Aerospace Technologies—Skip’s final employer, where he found work, friendship, and family all together once again.

Skip retired to Port Orange, Florida, as his late father and late brother, John "Jack" P. Matava did, to fulfill his dream of living close to his true passion: the Daytona World Center of Racing. Every automobile race captured his attention: particularly the Daytona 500, the Coke Zero Sugar 400, and the IMSA Rolex-24 at Daytona. In Connecticut, he loved Lime Rock Park racing and he was an equally avid fan of vintage cars and hot rods. A jukebox aficionado, he listened often to the music of his youth, particularly surfing and top-down car cruising tunes. Skip was an avid fan of Hartford Whalers hockey and Boston Red Sox baseball. He was also an enthusiastic Rollerblader, sometimes traversing huge portions of the state of Connecticut in a single day on Rails to Trails. Waterskiing at the family cottage, Shamrock Shore, was another summertime passion: Skip slalomed, barefooted, and built pyramids with his brother on the shoulders of NHL friends. On the kneeboard, he was known for his 360s and for the amount of time he spent not only on the water, but also in the air.

To Skip, the only things in this world more important than Corvettes, hot rods, and racing were his children: beloved daughter Christine A. Matava of New York, New York, and son, R.J. Matava with his wife, Danielle, of Virginia; as well as his cherished grandchildren: Abby, Ben, Bella, Peter, Gregory, Judith and Theresa. Skip also leaves behind two dear sisters, Patricia Matava Young of Massachusetts (along with her precious family) and Mary-Jo Matava of Connecticut, who spent the last two months by his side caring for him.

Skip lived his life with love for others, kindness, grace, quiet strength, and a true need for speed. Skip brought people together and kept a wide network of friends. His family is grateful for many happy years, especially time shared with him at the end of his life and takes comfort from knowing that he died at home with family, where he always wished to be.

A visitation will be held from 6-8 PM on Wednesday, April 15, at Volusia Memorial Funeral Home, 4815 South Clyde Morris Boulevard, Port Orange, Florida. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 AM on Thursday, April 16, at Our Lady of Hope Catholic Church, 4675 S. Clyde Morris Boulevard, Port Orange, Florida, followed by committal at Spruce Creek Cemetery.