Daniel Matis, Jr.

St. Johnsville - Daniel Matis, Jr., 82, a longtime St. Johnsville resident, passed away peacefully on Saturday, June 29, 2024, at Mountain Valley Hospice, Gloversville, NY with his devoted family by his side.

He was born on October 22, 1941, in Little Falls, NY, the son of the late Daniel and Lena (Sindici) Matis, Sr. Dan was a graduate of St. Johnsville High School, class of 1959, and later attended SUNY Cobleskill where he received his associate’s degree and met his wife, Maxine V. Laster. They married in 1968 and shared over 45 years of marriage until the passing of Maxine on November 10, 2013.

Mr. Matis was a member of the United States Army Reserve where he served for six years.

Growing up on a farm and playing sports instilled in Dan a strong work ethic. Following college, he settled in Florida and was employed as a laborer for Modern Ceiling. He returned to St. Johnsville and became proprietor of the Kyser Hotel in 1976.  By 1986, Sentinel Products employed him before retiring in 1996 as Plant Manager for Lorro Inc. in Detroit, Michigan.  Dan then enjoyed fifteen years working with William Symolon as a land surveyor’s assistant.

Dan was a member of the Morris J. Edwards American Legion Post 168, where for years, he shared a dish for the Bingo concessions and volunteered at the annual Memorial Day parade. He proudly enjoyed the success and revitalization of the Morris J. Edwards American Legion Baseball program where he was involved with scheduling, field preparation, and concessions.

Dan also contributed much to the youth of the community serving as a Little League coach and at the school coaching Jr. High baseball and JV Girls’ basketball. A proud founding member of the Joe L. Green Memorial Basketball Tourney, he spent over twenty years helping to organize what he believed to be where some of the most talented upstate NY basketball players came to play each March.

Family was Dan’s greatest joy. He and his wife, Maxine, hosted many holidays, picnics, and Sunday dinners that included great food, conversation, and game playing.  He was a devoted brother who made daily visits to his siblings to share food, a newspaper, or a visit to watch his favorite show, Gunsmoke. As a supportive father and proud grandfather, he made family his top priority as he helped with childcare and was a loyal sports fan of his grandchildren’s teams.

During the summer, Dan made frequent weekly visits to the Amish Produce Auction. He met many people and used his quick skills to bid and purchase affordable fruit and vegetables. He then returned with his bounty and made his rounds to friends and acquaintances to give away or sell his goods before unloading at his vegetable stand that he would proudly maintain.

Dan was a life-long learner and enjoyed keeping abreast of all local and national events and news, high school sports, and politics. He passed on his knowledge of trains, math, and history and shared experiences of gardening, cooking, apple cider and maple syrup making with his family.

Dan was a generous, hardworking, family man, His memory will be cherished by many friends and family with whom he shared his profound knowledge.

Survivors include his daughter, Dina Brundage and husband, Jason of St. Johnsville; sons, Paul Matis of New York City and Jordan Matis and wife, Sarah of Baldwinsville; his cherished grandchildren, Addie, Jack and Will Brundage and Claire Matis; brother, Timothy Matis of St. Johnsville; sister, Pauline Smith of St. Johnsville; and many beloved nieces and nephews.

He was pre-deceased by his wife, Maxine Laster, his mother and father, Lena (Sindici) Matis and Daniel Matis, Sr., Sister, Sharon Zimmer and husband, Richard, and brother-in-law, Melvin Smith.

The family will be receiving relatives and friends on Tuesday, July 9, 2024, from 4 - 6:30 pm at the Vincent A. Enea Funeral Service, (next to the Masonic Lodge), 20 Bridge St., St. Johnsville, NY. A prayer service will follow at 6:30 PM. A private burial at St. Johnsville Cemetery will take place on Wednesday.

Memorial contributions in Dan’s name may be made to the National MS Society, nationalmssociety.org (for his sister, Sharon), to Alzheimer’s Association, alz.org (for his mother, Lena) to Mountain Valley Hospice, mvhcares.org, or to Herkimer Humane Society, herkimerhumanesociety.org.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Daniel Matis, Jr., please visit our floral store.