Mary Mattes Memorial Display

 

MARY MATTES MEMORIAL DISPLAY

In Honor of my late mother

Justin Mattes, ALPCA#6748

Cape May, New Jersey

Mary Mattes was born June 4th, 1950 to Theresa and Charles Princiotto in

Queens, NY. She later moved to Ramsey, NJ, finally settling in Allendale, NJ with

her four younger siblings. Mary was a hostess at the Howard Johnson’s restaurant

where she met her future husband Peter in 1969. They were married in 1972. They

lived in the same house in Woodcliff Lake NJ for close to forty years. Mary and

Peter raised three sons, Justin, Christopher and Peter. Over their time in Woodcliff

Lake they also had three dogs, Tyson, Rufus, and Goober. The Mattes family had

their share of laughter.

Mom encouraged her three boys to pursue their hobbies to the fullest. This

for my brothers meant driving to soccer fields all over Bergen County where we

grew up. For me it was license plates. When I was around thirteen I started

noticing different cars in New Jersey had different license plates. I decided to write

a letter to the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission and a few weeks later they

responded with a copy of “The New Jersey License Plate Story”. Included with the

pamphlet was a form to order sample license plates. This was right before

Christmas 1991, when mom asked me what I wanted for Christmas I simply

circled some plates on the form and hope a few would find their way under the

tree. Christmas morning didn't disappoint. I unwrapped a box that I had mistaken

for clothes only to find five sample license plates.

Soon after, she found a way to hang my new found treasures in my room. A few

months passed and I remember finding the License Plate Book by Thomson

Murray and was so amazed at the pictures. My mother studied the book too. She

found the address for ALPCA and surprised me with a membership that Christmas.

Little did she know that single gift would open a door to a whole other world. I

joined ALPCA in January 1994 as member # 6748 and have never looked back.

Since then I have been to thirteen conventions, written numerous articles and cofounded

an ALPCA Region.

        My mom Mary passed away January 29th after battling cancer for a year

with good spirits she seemed fine only to have the the cancer come back with a

vengeance. The person my father brothers and I leaned on, too much in some

ways, was suddenly gone. The emotions are still raw. Mom and I were planning

my latest venture to the ALPCA Convention in Denver which after she passed

seemed impossible. A week after her service my brother Peter and his wife Sue

came to visit. Sue was flipping through the February Plates Magazine on the

kitchen counter and noticed the convention was in Denver. While I wasn't sure if

I was ready to travel, Sue said she always wanted to visit the Mile High City.

Within a few weeks the arrangements were made.

    Shortly after it was confirmed I was going to Denver I started pondering

doing a small display in my mother's memory. I wanted a 1950 New Jersey plate

with her initials “MM”. After putting out feelers on various email lists, Facebook

groups and scouring eBay, the search for MM plates came up short. I decided it

was too rushed and would put off the idea for a different time. A week later a

package came in the mail, with a letter from ALPCA member Kolby

Vinokor(#11725). My dad and I almost burst into tears. These plates are true

treasures in my collection. My mom was looking down on me once again. I love

you mom.