Born: June 24, 1912
Died: March 6, 1989
Married: Jeanne Meyer
Children: Mrs. Bela (Edwina) Ward, Mrs. J. Andrea Estus, Jacques L. DeMattos
Jacques T. DeMattos was a business man and civic leader, the owner of WNBZ, the director of the Saranac Lake Chamber of Commerce, and the publisher of "Meet the Town."
Adirondack Daily Enterprise, March 6, 1989
Jacques DeMattos is dead at age 76
By PATRICK KEYES
SARANAC LAKE — Jacques T. DeMattos, a longtime resident of Saranac Lake who was prominently involved in local businesses and civic groups, died early today at his home on Bloomingdale Road. He was 76.
Mr. DeMattos, picked by the Chamber of Commerce as Saranac Lake's Citizen of the Year in 1988, was an active member of the community since first coming to Saranac Lake in 1940. He owned the local radio station through the 1950s.
He was born June 24, 1912, in New York City, the son of Joseph and Helen (LeFevre) DeMattos. He married the former Jeanne Meyer on April 11, 1937, in New York. He was employed with a Wall Street firm for several years before coming to Saranac Lake.
Mr. DeMattos was first employed at the Hotel Saranac before he became a salesman for WNBZ radio. He bought the radio station in 1951.
While heading up the radio station, he brought several well known personalities to the area for the annual Winter Carnival. He also expanded the station's broadcast format and started its affiliation with the ABC radio network before selling WNBZ to James Rogers in 1962.
In 1969, Mr. DeMattos bought Galas Ltd., the publishers of "Meet the Town," a popular guide to the many services and attractions in Saranac Lake and Lake Placid. That publication is marking its 62nd year in 1989.
Mr. DeMattos was a director of the local Chamber of Commerce for ten years, serving as president of the organization for six years. He joined with others in founding and supporting Santa's Jukebox, the annual fundraiser that provides toys to needy area children at Christmas.
He was also a former member of the local Mason's and Lion's Clubs, and was a member and past president of the Rotary Club of Saranac Lake. The Rotary Club honored him with its prestigious Paul Harris Fellowship.
In addition, Mr. DeMattos was a working director of the Saranac Lake-Lake Placid Chapter of the American Red Cross, the Salvation Army, the Saranac Lake Development Corp., the Lake Placid Center for the Arts and the Franklin-Essex Lyceum, and was a volunteer at the Saranac Lake Free Library. He was also a member of the committee that was responsible for locating the campus of North Country Community College in the late 1960s.
Mr. DeMattos typically tried to deflect attention from himself when he was named Citizen of the Year last June. "One person shouldn't take the full glory," he remarked that night at the Hotel Saranac. "So I accept this on behalf of those whom I have worked with through the years."
In addition to his wife, Mr. DeMattos is survived by two daughters, Mrs. Bela (Edwina) Ward of Ray Brook and Mrs. J. Andrea Estus of Albany; and a son, Jacques L. DeMattos of Saranac Lake, a former village trustee. Also surviving are a sister, Mrs. Celine White of Stockton, Calif., four grandchildren and two nephews.
Calling hours will take place from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at the Fortune Funeral Home in Saranac Lake.
A funeral service will be said at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. Cremation will follow.
Donations in Mr. DeMattos's memory may be made to the Saranac Lake Free Library in care of the funeral home.
