John Vincent DiMatteo Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Obituary John Vincent DiMatteo August 25, 1930 – June 13, 2020 John DiMatteo was a Man for All Seasons. He was born and raised on a ranch in San Diego County during The Great Depression. John received his education at USC and the University of California San Diego. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict creating and managing USO shows as a non-combatant. John, however, volunteered for a mission for which he earned the Korean Service medal with two Bronze Stars. His military service was followed by the civilian career for which he was born. As a Corporate Communications and Public Relations executive, he travelled extensively in Europe and Southeast Asia earning honors and awards that were neatly tucked away in the back of his closet. He was Past President of the Silicon Valley Chapter, Public Relations Society of America. His retreat from the demands of the corporate world was on the tennis court. While honors and awards here are harder to find, he willingly sacrificed two good knees to the sport. More important than all of this is who he was as a man. John was as comfortable with Corporate CEOs and A-List entertainers as children in remote villages of Southeast Asia. His gift was a natural ability to have others feel genuinely important to him. The most precious gift he received was his wife, Carole. They moved to The Villages in 2010. Their love affair was filled with travel, hosting dinner parties, dining at Anton & Michel’s in Carmel, cheering at the Monterey Jazz Festival, quietly applauding at Pebble Beach golf tournaments and especially dancing. John and Carole loved to dance the night away. Sherry McVicar, a colleague for 40 years, and Carole’s extended family became his family, and they embraced him wholly as did his many Villager friends. No family or friends, however, could replace the light that went out when Carole passed away in August 2018. John was in an automobile accident three months later which triggered a downward spiral in his health. Despite frequent hospital and rehab stays, and in-home care (Thank you, Beth), John was determined to play golf every Wednesday, play pool every Friday, attend Mass every Sunday, and remain dedicated to regular workouts at the gym. Just as he lived life to the fullest, he valiantly fought the inevitable while comforted by Sabine’s treasured Hospice care. On June 13th, another light went out, but the music plays on as once again John and Carole dance the night away. Due to Monterey County Guidelines, gathering at the Military Honors Ceremony is limited to ten people.

John Vincent DiMatteo

August 25, 1930 - June 13, 2020