Joe Mattis, longtime Erie sports writer and Hall of Fame inductee, dies at age 78

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• Longtime Erie Times-News sports writer Joe Mattis covered high school sports extensively, along with professional leagues including MLB and the NFL.
• He was inducted into both the Gannon Athletics Hall of Fame and the Erie Sports Hall of Fame.
• Mattis was known for his dedication to family, friends and community service.

Joe Mattis spent more than four decades capturing the excitement and emotion of high school sports for Erie Times-News readers.

He ended his Hall of Fame career with arguably the area’s most popular sporting event each year, the Cathedral Prep-McDowell football rivalry game.

The talented writer died the morning of May 30 at his home, surrounded by family, after several health issues. He was 78.

Mattis turned to sports writing early, working part-time with the Times Publishing Company in 1966 while still a student at then-Gannon College. He was the sports editor of both the Gannon student newspaper and the Gannon yearbook. Mattis was inducted into the Gannon Athletics Hall of Fame in 2017.

Mattis graduated with a bachelor’s degree in industrial management in 1969. He became a full-time sports writer for the Erie Morning News in 1984, retiring 24 years later in the fall of 2008. One year later, he was inducted into the Erie Metropolitan Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame.

“I feel so blessed to have had Joe Mattis as a close friend. Joe was so kind and would do anything for a friend,” said former Times-News sports editor Jeff Kirik. “As a coworker, Joe was a wonderful sports reporter who took great pride in his work and added so much to the Times-News coverage. He was also a devoted supporter of Gannon University athletics, including his role as a women’s golf assistant coach. So many people will miss Joe’s presence.”

Mattis’ career included covering Major League Baseball, including the World Series and the All-Star Game, as well as the NFL, the NBA, college sports, professional auto racing and Erie’s minor league teams.

But Mattis was most known for his involvement in high school sports. His 44 total years on the job included covering numerous PIAA championship events, coordinating the District 10 all-stars and working with the statewide media on the PIAA media committee.

Mattis also served on the Erie Sports Hall of Fame committee, including a tenure as the board president.

Service was a big part of Mattis’ life. He was active in his church and put in countless hours serving the Erie community.

“I was so fortunate to consider Joe a good friend, but he had so many. He was just a fantastic person who enjoyed life. Joe took me under his wings as a young SID and a part-time worker at the Erie Morning News and he showed me the way,” said longtime friend Bob Shreve. “He stood for everything that is good in life ― family ideals, devout in his faith. I will miss Joe greatly, but can smile knowing that Joe is now with his wife Patti and twin brother John.”

Family man

The most important thing to Mattis was his family: wife Patti, children Mary and Michael, and his grandkids. He and Patti were married in 1969, and he took care of her during a long battle with Parkinson’s Disease and Lewy Body Dementia before she died on Feb. 6, 2024.

“About 25 years ago, when he found out that our young family would be impacted by autism, Joe began attending the Walk for Autism every year in support of our family,” Kirik said. “He made gestures like that for so many people. Joe also cared for his beloved wife, Patti, so selflessly when she suffered from a long-term illness. It was inspiring.”

Memorial, funeral Mass for Joe Mattis

Visitation is scheduled for June 3 from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. at Russell C. Schmidt & Son Funeral Home, 5000 Wattsburg Road. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at Holy Rosary Roman Catholic Parish, 2701 East Ave., June 4 at 10 a.m. Burial will take place at a future date in Mary Queen of Peace Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to Holy Rosary Parish, 2701 East Ave., Erie, PA 16504.

Contact Tom Reisenweber at [email protected]. Follow him on X @ETNreisenweber.