John "Jack" G. Mathias

Jack was born on November 8, 1922 and died on November 1, 2011. He graduated from Lafayette High School in 1940. In 1943 he graduated from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. At Penn, he was a member of the Alpha Sigma Phi Fraternity and lettered in Track for the Penn Track Team, where he also ran in the famed Penn Relays. In January of 1944 he went to Northwestern University of Chicago Midshipmen School for the Navy V7 elite program. He was a Naval Officer in WW II. He was a member of the CPO Club in Buffalo.He worked in several local accounting positions including 1946 General Mills, 1949 Wagner Grain Division if Fraunheim Corp., 1950 as a teacher of Money & Banking at Canisius College, 1951 Park & Pollard Co. assistant Controller, 1955 Olin-Mathieson, 1957 Barcuum Chemical, 1960 Buffalo Asphalt. Jack also filled in during holiday times at the Family run Mathias Cigar Store. In 1964 Jack established his own company, Delaware Paving Corporation, and served as President until 1983. Under the International Executive Service Corp he volunteered for some six projects in Nicaragua, Indonesia, and the Philippines 1976 – 1985. In 1984 he went to work as a Controller for Root Neal & Co. for one & a half years. 1986 – 1996 he served as a consultant with Root Neal as well as some Nicaraguan friends in Miami. Jack also served with SCORE for the SBA from 1987 – 1990. 1980 – 1994 he headed the local Secondary School Committee of the University of Pennsylvania. He served two terms as President of the University of Pennsylvania Club of Western NY. Jack twice chaired the Penn Mask & Wig performance in Buffalo. Jack attended daily Mass at Holy Angels Parish in buffalo and also served as a Sunday Church Usher. He also attended Blessed Sacrament and Annunciation Parishes in Buffalo and Assumption Church in Pompano Beach, FL. He enjoyed travelling with many trips to Europe, South America, Central America the Caribbean, Athens, Turkey, and Asia. Jack was predeceased by his first wife, the former Patricia Butchart of Buffalo as well as a daughter Melita. Surviving is his wife of 25 years, Mary Margaret O’Connell who he enjoyed wintering with in Lauderdale by the Sea, FL. He is also survived by his other six children, Patricia (late Robert)Webb, Jack Jr. (Marcia), Gretchen (Kent Savage), Peter (Donna), David, and Kurt (Sue), and 12 Grandchildren and 1 Great Grandchild. He is also survived by a sister, Joan (Michael Jordan). A mass of Christian burial will be held Saturday Nov. 12th, 10am at Holy Angels RC Church 348 Porter Ave.