Joseph M. Mattone, Sr. was born on September 15, 1931, the last of nine children in the Greenpoint section of Brooklyn where he lived for twenty-five years and opened his early law practice until moving to Flushing in 1978.
He attended P.S. 17 in Brooklyn, Stuyvesant High School, St. John’s Prep and St. John’s College and Law School from which he graduated in five years Cum Laude.
He was married in July 1956 to Irene Ficarra and has seven children. After Irene’s death from cancer, he married Mary Ann Pessolano on May 18, 1991.
Mr. Mattone attended Columbia University for special courses on condemnation, appraisals and valuation as well as extended courses at Practicing Law Institute, Adelphi University, and St. John’s seminars. He is also a graduate of the New School for Social Research on New Zoning Codes.
Mr. Mattone is currently a member of the New York State and American Bar Association, Queens County Bar Association, and Columbia Society of Real Estate Appraisers as well as a member of St. John’s University Council and a member of the Board of Directors of the Alumni Association, Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem and also the Knights of Malta, Eastern Lieutenancy and is the former President of the Board of Directors for Cerebral Palsy of Queens and is Past President of the American Society of the Italian Legions of Merit. Additionally, Mr. Mattone has recently been elected to the Board of Trustees at St. John’s University.
Mr. Mattone’s law office of Mattone, Mattone, Mattone, Mattone, Mattone, Megna & Todd represents twelve (12) major commercial and thrift institutions as outside counsel.
Mr. Mattone has been active in philanthropic and political fund raising. He participated in the 1974, 1978 and 1982 Gubernatorial campaigns and mayoral campaigns of 1977, 1978 and 1989. He was honored for his services as Chairman of the St. Vincent’s Home, Queens Division. In 1981, he was honored as Man of the Year for United Cerebral Palsy. In 1983, he was chosen as “Man of the Year” for Italian Charities of America along with Mrs. Matilda Cuomo who was honored as well. In 1983 he was also honored as the Flushing Boy’s Club “Man of the Year”. From 1983 to 1987 he was General Chairman of the annual dinner of the Order of Sons of Italy and General Ticket Chairman from 1984 to 1995 of the Coalition of Italian American Organizations. In 2001, Mr. Mattone was honored by the Eleanor Roosevelt Regular Democratic Club and he received the Good Scout Award from the Queens Council Boy Scouts of America (2001).
Mr. Mattone also received the 2001 Progress of Peoples Achievement Award from Catholic Charities, Brooklyn and Queens and was honored at the Fifth Third Annual Bishop’s Testimonial Award Dinner. In 2003 he was honored as “Man of the Year” by the Little Neck, Douglaston Memorial Day Parade Organization. In February, 2004, Mr. Mattone was honored by the Corona Lions Club and in June 2004, Mr. Mattone received an honor from the Queens Symphony Orchestra as Community Leader at the 2004 Symphony Blast. In addition, Mr. Mattone received the Spirit of Service Award from St. John’s University in October, 2004, and in 2006 Mr. Mattone was honored by Ozanam Hall at the Rose of Carmel Gala. In 2006 Mr. Mattone was given the first Lifetime Achievement Award from the Queens Chamber of Commerce and later that same year he was honored by the Diocese of Brooklyn at the Bishop’s annual Christmas Luncheon where he received the Pope John Paul II Distinguished Stewardship Award.
In 2007 Mr. Mattone was bestowed with the Certificate of Honorary Citizenship in honor of the 45th Anniversary of the Independence of the Island of Jamaica. For several years Mr. Mattone has been a sponsor of the Jamaica Service Program for Older Adults as well as a sponsor of the African American Heritage Month. He is on the Board of Directors for Futures in Education and is also a Board Member for the Queens Chamber of Commerce. He is also a supporter of the Italian American Museum in New York City.
Mr. Mattone’s recent honorings were in October 2008, where he and Mrs. Mary Ann Mattone were given the Child of Peace Award from the New York Catholic Guardian Society & Home Bureau. He was also honored by the Queens Courier and received the King of Queens Award. Mr. & Mrs. Mattone were also Event Co-Chairs for the Queens Library Foundation’s 8th Annual Crystal Ball Event. In the summer of 2009, Mr. Mattone was honored at Belmont Park at St. John’s University Alumni Association Day at the Races. In November of 2009, he shared a co-honoring with Governor Mario Cuomo at the St. John’s Preparatory School 60th Annual Reunion. In October 2008, Mr. Mattone was an invitee and supporter of the opening of the St. John’s University Rome Campus and he is the President of Figli Di San Gennaro Festival for the past five years. In April of 2009, Mr. Mattone was active in raising money for the victims of the Earthquake in Abruzzo, Italy. In May 0f 2011 Mr. Mattone was honored by the Catholic Lawyers Guild. Later in September 2011, Mr. Mattone was elevated to the Rank of Grand Cross by the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, and along with Joseph Ficalora, Mr. Mattone served on the Honorary Host Committee for the Queens Chamber of Commerce, Centennial Gala. I
n his College Point office, Mr. Mattone is surrounded by plaques and medals commemorating his many honors and achievements. But for this committed family man, it is the many photographs of his 27 grandchildren-at softball games, commencement ceremonies, and family gatherings-that are his real pride and joy.