Sylvia
Flight #5342: I Will Remember You
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Jackie Wong's tribute (includes 2 screenshots from a family member's Facebook post - ETA - now copied out below): https://twitter.com/rockerskating/status/1624165547779710992
The word was communicated to our family that my brother Doug Mattis passed away this evening (Thursday, 2/09/23) after a protracted illness. Doug was 56. He seemed to know millions of people all across the world, though I’m not sure how many of you knew my brother personally. He became well-known in these circles as a result of his success as a figure skater.
Doug lived a life of his own choosing. He continually made his own decisions and adhered to his own moral principles. Not every circumstance resulted in the best results. He insisted on them and dealt with the consequences even if the decisions and routes he took weren’t always the “preferred choice.” I think the bulk of the skating world loved and embraced him. But it seemed to me that there were always “administrators” who didn’t agree with him and tried to make his life difficult. They didn’t believe his “free spirit” was “good for the sport” because he was such a “free spirit,” to put it politely.
Doug afterwards became an activist for human rights and opposed bigotry of any kind, particularly against the gay community. Even when his political ideas occasionally brought him into trouble, he would not be afraid to lose friends over his beliefs, behavior, or remarks. His feeling of seclusion eventually became quite strong, and he seldom ever spoke to anyone outside a very limited group of very close friends and relatives. Because of how painful his illness may be at times, I wasn’t sure how much longer he could live. We all knew that eventually this day would come.
In Pennsylvania in particular, he received virtually little assistance from the government in the way of services like healthcare. If he found out that, tragically, others are currently having the same issue, he would be much more upset.
People who knew him (in the past) often wondered what had happened and where he was. But once more, it was his choice. He didn’t want to be seen in his current state by others. He didn’t want people to feel sorry for him or irritated with him. He obviously desired for everyone to remember him as he was “before.”
I heard him reassuring me repeatedly, saying, “One day, I’ll just stroll into the sea and disappear.” In a metaphorical sense, he succeeded in achieving that. If you knew our mother, Jill Marberger, I’m sure she would love to hear from you, see your pictures, and hear about the good times YOU had with Doug. On behalf of our entire family, thank you in advance for your prayers and good wishes.
Robin Cousins (4 tweets): https://twitter.com/TheRobinCousins/status/1624338240978182144
His 4th tweet included a link to Mattis' 1991 Nationals FS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLxMS8Orc6gGetting the news last night of Doug Mattis passing hit me hard. He was a student of mine in his final competitive years and such a joy to teach and choreograph for. His joy of skating should be heeded by those who think what you do is more important that how you do it.
I couldn’t make the final Nationals, but we talked it though every day. Our conversation after the short was something like this. D: I’m going to do the back flip Me: No, you know the consequences.
D: But it’s my last time and you always tell me the most important person on the ice is me and that’s who I am. Me: OK. Skate clean and give everyone else what they need, then and only then, the backflip is yours.
You were funny, smart, and always you. RIP Doug.
Tai Babilonia: https://twitter.com/taiskates/status/1624206933048848384
Her tweet includes the link to "Doug Mattis & Dorothy Helium 2.0" (from the 1991 PSA US Open) that's posted on Doug Mattis' YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BmEfY7SsNxs
Lorrie Kim: https://twitter.com/ThreePatchCocoa/status/1624195713889452032
Her Rainbow Ice website's profile: https://www.plover.com/rainbowice/dougri.html
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