Joseph Joe Mattos Arthur Mattos

Joe A. MattosBorn December 14, 1929 in Modesto, CA. Passed away unexpectedly from a heart aneurysm November 4, 2009. His early childhood was on a ranch in Escalon, CA but most of his youth he spent in Rodeo, CA. He was an accomplished baseball and football player at John Swett High School in Crockett, CA. He went on to play baseball at Vallejo JC. He came to SJSU to major in Business and Economics; additionally he took philosophy courses he claimed “blew his mind open”! He graduated from San Jose State University in 1952. He was eternally grateful to the school because it taught him that education was the key to opportunity. While attending SJSU in 1951, he was married to his wife, Beverly Paxton, for 58 years. Preceding Army induction, he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant. After training in Texas and Virginia, Joe was deployed to Pusan, Korea where he was the head administrator, overseeing 150 troops and indigenous personnel, in the Medical Service Core, (1953) for 19 months. In the years after discharge, Joe attended UC Hastings College of Law and Golden Gate School of Law. Joe successfully maintained a general practice of law for 48 years in San Jose. Joe was proud of his Portuguese heritage. This pride carried into his philanthropy for the Portuguese community which included extensive pro bono work to ensure establishment and recognition of the Portuguese and Azorean heritage and non-profit businesses in the valley and State of California. One of Joe’s passions was his support of San Jose State Athletics especially Spartan Football. He attended games home and away for over 50 years. Another passion was world travel. His travels included all 50 states, over 85 countries spanning all 7 continents. He loved to make conversation and found pleasure in finding common ground with people from different backgrounds. He had a playful sense of humor, he loved to learn, he was a thinking man, a philosopher of sorts. He will be dearly missed. He is survived by his wife, Beverly; son, Brett Mattos, and his wife, Tami; daughter, Kim Mattos, her husband, Kye Andersen, granddaughter, Piper; Sister, Rosalina George, her husband Mel George and sister, Marie Wheeler and numerous nephews & nieces. Visitation Thursday, November 12, 2009 from 2-9pm at the Willow Glen Funeral Home 1039 Lincoln Ave. San Jose, Ca 95125 with vigil services at 7PM.Family and friends are invited to gather Friday, November 13, 2009 at the Five Wounds Portuguese National Church for funeral service commencing at 10:00AM. Interment to follow at Los Gatos Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to: Spartan Foundation, One Washington Square, San Jose, CA 95192-0062. Condolences may be expressed on our online guestbook at www.mem.com