Obituary of Dante Mattioni

Dante Mattioni, a respected Philadelphia lawyer and civic leader died peacefully on May 5, 2014, surrounded by his family and friends, after a long and courageous battle with complications from congestive heart failure. He was 83 and lived in Philadelphia. Dante was the beloved husband of Susan and devoted father of Jennifer.

Dante Mattioni was founder and President of Mattioni, Ltd. His practice in law spanned nearly 50 years representing clients in complex matters locally, nationally, and internationally. He retired from active practice in October 2008. After his retirement, Mr. Mattioni continued to be involved in the legal and business community and remained active with client relations. He was also active in many professional, charitable, educational and civic organizations. He led a rich and varied life which greatly influenced his career and practice.

After graduating South Philadelphia High School, he attended Kings Point United States Merchant Marine Academy. Graduating Kings Point in 1951, he earned his master mariner's license and served his country in the United States Navy Reserves. Mr. Mattioni served as a Merchant Marine Officer before attending Temple University School of Law, and was admitted into the Pennsylvania Bar in 1962.

He formed a partnership with two of his brothers, Faustino and John in 1965, and later, founded Mattioni, Ltd in 1974 to include brothers Blasco and Eugene. Mr. Mattioni was an accomplished trial lawyer, handling numerous important and complex cases in his long career. He had an illustrious career in the law, which included serving as an Assistant District Attorney and Deputy Attorney General for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, responsible for the Southeastern Region. He served on the Pennsylvania Constitutional Convention in 1967-1968 and was a member of the Board of the Philadelphia Housing Authority.

As a result of his generosity and dedication to the service of others, Mr. Mattioni has been the recipient of the numerous awards including being named a Cavalier of the Republic of Italy, the OSIA's Purple Aster Award, being honored as Man of the Year by the Maritime Society of Philadelphia, the Seaman's Church Institute's Spirit of the Port Award, and the Professional Achievement and Meritorious Service awards from the United States Merchant Marine Academy Foundation. He was Chairman of the Chapel of Four Chaplains, and served on commissions and on boards of numerous organizations including the Philadelphia Historical Society of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, the Maritime Exchange for the Delaware River and Bay, the Ports of Philadelphia Maritime Society, the Vessel Owners and Captains Association, the Seaman's Church Institute, the Justinian Society Foundation, and Chairman of the Maritime Academy Charter School. He was an active member on the Board of The Progressions Companies and on the Board of the Malvern Institute.

He is survived by siblings Maria (Guido), Rosalie (Paul), John (Mary), Helen (Andrew), Angela (Klaus), Eugene (Marie), Mae (Bruce), predeceased by his parents Domenico and Concetta (Tensci) Mattioni, and brothers Blasco and Faustino.

Friends and family may gather on Saturday, May 10th from 10:30 am at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 22 E. Chestnut Hill Ave. Philadelphia, PA 19118 where services will begin at 11 am.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in his memory to the www.woundedwarriorproject.org or to the Bethesda Project at bethesdaproject.org.