Leonard A. Mattano

Leonard A Mattano, 96, of Mystic, Connecticut, formerly of Michigan and Wisconsin, passed away Saturday, November 30, 2013, following a brief illness. He was predeceased by his loving wife of 65 years, Sara (Navarra) Mattano. Leonard was born July 8, 1917, in Tampa, Florida, to August Mattano and Josephine (Baccarella) Mattano. From an early age he was raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin where he graduated from Riverside High School in 1936. He earned his undergraduate degree at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, in 1941 and pursued a career in chemistry at The Dow Chemical Company in Midland, Michigan. In 1945 he began graduate work at Michigan State University, Lansing, earning his PhD in 1948. After 8 years at Standard Oil of Indiana, he returned to Michigan where he worked at Dow until 1969, then at Bissell Inc. in Grand Rapids until his retirement in 1982. Leonard and Sara were married in Madison, Wisconsin, on September 6, 1941. During their 65 years of marriage they were blessed with five children, ten grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, and a multitude of dear friends. They moved to Portage, Michigan, in 1999, where Sara died in 2006. Leonard has resided with his son and family in Mystic, Connecticut, since 2010, where he enjoyed oceanfront walks, seafood, and frequenting roadside ice cream stands. Lifelong hobbies included history, photography, opera, and woodworking. Leonard is survived by children JoAnn Ceja of Saginaw MI, Roslynne Worst of Chicago IL, Kathy Ubaldi and husband Gus of North Olmsted OH, Lee Palencar and husband John of Medina OH, and Len Mattano Jr and wife Sue of Mystic CT (formerly of Kalamazoo). Grandchildren include Jeff Ceja, Mary (Ceja) Nelson, Larry and Bill Witte, Meg (Ubaldi) Cancino, Michael Ubaldi, Ian and Kit Palencar, and Marie and Clara Mattano. Great-grandchildren reside in Michigan and Maryland. The family will receive friends Thursday, December 5, from 6-8 PM at Redmond Funeral Home, 4100 S. Westnedge, Kalamazoo, MI 49008. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Friday 11:00 AM at St. Catherine of Siena, 1140 W Centre, Portage, preceded by visitation at 10:00 AM. Entombment will be at Mount Ever-Rest Memorial Park, S. Westnedge. www.redmondfuneralhomes.net