James Arthur Demattia

You were one of the lucky ones if you ever got to gather around a fire with Jim DeMattia. Whether deep in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, a beach, or a backyard, there was magic when he arrived and settled in to tell a story, often with a cigar and glass of good whiskey, and always with a smile.

His enthusiasm for life was legendary, his 87 years on the planet were filled with adventure. He was a teacher that saw the world, and all its movements, differently than most. His youthful contemplation served those he taught, from children on a grassy field or ice rink, to Apollo astronauts preparing for space travel. He was proud to be a Rocket Scientist that pushed against edges and questioned the rules. His love of life was inspirational.

His legacy is the play he found wherever he went and the parties that he loved so much; the childlike glimmer in his eyes was evident in every experience.  He played with everyone he met while rollerblading along southern California beaches, at Notre Dame games, ski lodges, tennis courts, golf courses, or while singing Danny Boy at karaoke bars on St. Patrick's Day.  He was always imagining and tweaking the way he engaged with the world, and his inventive nature brought laughter even when things didn’t quite work out the way he planned.

Jim was guided by his Catholic faith as a firm foundation for the values upon which he built his life. He was an altar boy, an active member of the Men’s Club at St. Paschal Baylon Church in Thousand Oaks, and held 3rd degree honors with the Knights of Columbus.

A devoted family man, he is survived by his wife Edna, his five daughters, Suzie Reynolds, Joanne Page, Sharon DeMattia, Dianne DeMattia-Hansen, and Jennifer Thamm and their spouses Grant Reynolds, Bill Page, Dave Hansen, and Marc Thamm.  He loved to laugh with his 12 grandchildren and a great granddaughter and filled his family with his absolute love, laughter, and endless life lessons.  There was no greater joy for him than reading a story, playing a game, or going to a park with his family.

His life started and ended on a farm. In his early days in Dearborn and Farmington Michigan, he tended sheep, made maple syrup, and played ice hockey. His last days were spent listening to the roosters at sunrise on his daughter’s homestead in California.  To honor his full circle life and love of nature, his family will be planting a variety of trees as a “James DeMattia Memorial” that will continue to grow and bear the fruit of a life well lived. In lieu of flowers, the family is inviting contributions to his memorial garden at https://www.npbministries.org

On Good Friday, March 29th, 2024, James Arthur DeMattia transitioned into heaven, but his fire still burns and his stories will continue to live and grow within us all as lore and in love.  A funeral mass will be held on April 26th at 12:00 pm at St. Timothy Catholic Church in Laguna Niguel, CA.  A Celebration of Life party will follow with details shared privately.