Edward Leroy Mattson (known as Ed to his friends and Roy to his family) died peacefully at Riverside Walter Reed Hospital in Gloucester, on Sept. 26, 2017 at the age of 77. 

Ed is survived by his daughter, Robyn (Rob) Rickenbach of Chantilly, and their children Dan (Ashley), Katie (Jason) and Mia; his son, Wayne (Amanda) of Woodbridge, and their children Nathaniel, Joshua, Peter, Dominic, John and Lucia; his son, Daryl of New York City, and his son, Lyle (Sara) and their children, Owen and Cooper, and three great-grandchildren. Ed is also survived by his longtime companion, Mary Ann Gilman of Mathews; by his first wife and mother of his children, Darlene (Berg), and by his second wife, Stephanie Markoff. Ed’s living siblings are Patricia (Sonny, dec.) Haney and Steve (Marsha, dec.).

He was preceded in death by his parents, Walter and Margaret (Vignola); his sister, Cathy (Russell) Riggins, and by children, Ginger and Eric, who died shortly after birth.

Ed was born on Nov. 3, 1939 in Camden, New Jersey.  Immediately after graduating high school, he set out from home to a life of many locales and adventures.

Early in his adult life, Ed worked in retail jobs, ran a restaurant, worked as a short-order cook and boxed professionally, among many other occupations. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army and served in Ethiopia in the late 1950s.

After marrying Iowa native Darlene in 1963 in Whittier, California, Ed began a long and fruitful career in the Foreign Service during which he was posted to seven countries on five continents, and he also traveled to many other countries in the line of duty.

Ed’s professional accomplishments and the service accolades he earned in service of his country are too many to be listed here, and his home was filled with pictures of him with U.S. presidents and other high-ranking government officials.  

Ed retired from government service in 1989, and resided in Mathews until his passing.

A man of many talents, Ed’s personal life was as colorful as his career. Outgoing, well-spoken and charismatic, Ed had many lifelong friends and professional acquaintances. He was an untrained artist with several works to his name, and a natural athlete. Ed also excelled (and made money) at pool and card playing. Favorite card games were his weekly poker matches, bridge rubbers, and playing casino with his children. Late in life, Ed discovered latent talents in singing (he played local venues and cut a CD album), acting (appearing in two local productions) and writing (he set down a voluminous set of personal stories). Above all, Ed was an inveterate teller of jokes and stories who was well known for his keen sense of humor.

Ed’s remains will be cremated at Hogg Funeral Home in Gloucester. Further disposition, as well as the time and date of the “rollicking party” Ed requested, will be announced at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, a scholarship fund has been set up through the Mathews Yacht Club. Donations to the fund should be addressed in Ed’s name to the club at P.O. Box 671, Mathews, Va. 23109.

Condolences can be sent care of Wayne Mattson at 5257 Sudberry Lane, Woodbridge, Va. 22193.