Marilyn Joan Mattys

Marilyn Joan Mattys, longtime educator and theatre artist, and beloved wife, mother, and friend, took her final bow on Monday, April 12, surrounded by her family, following a short illness. She was 76.

Marilyn was the second daughter born to Harold and Mary Ruth Stains and grew up in Pennsylvania and Ohio. She earned her BA in Speech at the College of Wooster, where, as she would frequently remind her family whenever she did something silly, she was a member of Phi Beta Kappa. She subsequently earned an MA at Illinois State University and an MFA from the University of Virginia and enjoyed a long career as an educator and theatre artist, starting with her early days working summer stock at Canal Fulton Theatre in Ohio in the 1960s. As an actress, Marilyn graced the stages of her academic institutions as well as Wayside Theatre in Middletown, Virginia, and Heritage Repertory Theatre in Charlottesville. She also directed shows in academic settings and briefly served as Artistic Director of Pit & Balcony Theatre in Saginaw, Michigan, and as a guest director at Wayside. Marilyn taught students of all ages throughout her life, including at the Bollingbrook Day School in Petersburg, the Colorado Springs School, UVA, Piedmont Community College, and finally Randolph-Macon College, where she taught for almost 25 years until her retirement. RMC alumni, faculty, and staff, as well as the local community, may remember her adaptation of "A Christmas Carol," which ran at the college every December from 1990 to 2015. An avid reader and writer, Marilyn also worked at the Pamunkey Regional Library for more than 15 years.

Left standing in ovation after the curtain are Marilyn's husband of 52 years, Joe, her two children, Patrick and Devon, and her treasured grandson Joe Mattys III, all of the Richmond area. She is also survived by her sister Barbara Andrews and niece Erin (Brad) Brown, both of Michigan; nephew James Andrews, of Pennsylvania; and brother Hal (Barb) Stains, of Ohio. Further left to cherish her memory are dear friends, former students, and extended family around the country. Marilyn was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers-in-law, two sisters-in-law, and a menagerie of beloved pets spanning 70 years, with whom her family has always known she would be thrilled to reunite.

Marilyn’s quick wit and wicked sense of humor will be missed most by those closest to her. She loved theatre, bridge, word games, murder mysteries, tea, and her cats. To honor her memory, go take in a show, do a word jumble, ruminate over a cup of hoji-cha, or just curl up with a good book and a temperamental feline. Remember her, too, whenever you laugh. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to Richardson's Rescue, CJ's Thumbs Up Foundation, or the Theatre Program at Randolph-Macon.