They had their first date when she was 14 and he was 15. When they were high school sweethearts back in Kansas City, she was valedictorian of her class and he was a “jock.” They married while attending the University of Missouri.
Duncan and Shirley Matteson of Menlo Park consider their proudest moment the celebration of their 50th wedding anniversary last August.
Today, the Mattesons are a team, in business and in family life. They are unique in that they’re the first Menlo Park couple chosen to receive Lifetimes of Achievement Awards by the nonprofit organization, Avenidas.
The award honors people for exemplary service and contributions to their communities in such fields as business, education, health and the arts.
This year’s seven winners join 104 area residents honored with the award since 1985.
Making their mark
The Mattesons have made their mark on the area both in business and as leaders in numerous medical and community organizations.Moving to the Bay Area more than 45 years ago, Duncan and Shirley Matteson have established deep roots in Silicon Valley life, with many friends, business associations and community service involvements. With careers acquiring and managing numerous apartment complexes and commercial properties, both have also enjoyed second careers in service to others.
Mr. Matteson has been chairman of Greater Bay Bancorp for six years, and served on the Palo Alto Medical Foundation board of trustees for 17 years. He also co-founded the Housing Industry Foundation, a nonprofit that helps “individuals and families remain in or return to stable housing” and assists with special housing projects or renovations in the Bay Area.
He is active in many other organizations, including the Menlo Park Presbyterian Church, where he served as trustee for the Church of the Pioneers Foundation for 16 years.
Mr. Matteson began his local business career as a stockbroker, but soon veered into real estate development.
“Seeing companies like Hewlett-Packard grow and grow, with so many new ideas and all that brain power, I knew this had to be a tremendous growth area,” he said.
Known as a fearless fundraiser, Mr. Matteson helped raise $45 million in private contributions in 1999 for the new Palo Alto Medical Foundation facility.
As in many of his ventures, friendship and networking were an important part of his success. The late Dr. Robert Jamplis, first president of the Palo Alto Medical Foundation, was a personal friend.
Fundraising is easier when you have good friends who will take your calls and, one hopes, write a check, he notes.
A mind for management
Shirley Matteson was influenced by the Cherry Ames nurse novels as a child. She might have become a nurse if marriage hadn’t beckoned. Today she says, “I’d become a doctor instead.”“She has an exceptional business mind,” says her husband. That talent was put to good use after their two children, Melissa and Matt, went off to college. Her husband asked her to take over property management for a shopping center in Santa Clara. “After three months’ training, I managed the center for three years,” she says.
That was the beginning. She ended up managing the Matteson Companies’ commercial property for 22 years.
Five years ago she began the transition to community interests, especially health care. A co-founder of the Stanford Health Library, located at Stanford Shopping Center, she served on the board of the Stanford University Medical Center. For a time she served on the pastoral care team at Stanford Hospital, visiting terminally ill patients. She also was a board member of the Children’s Health Council.
Ms. Matteson is currently on the executive committee of the Hoover Institution. She has served as vice chairman of its development committee.
As a member of the institution’s archive committee, she helped open an exhibit on Herbert Hoover in Poland. Do the Polish people know President Hoover? “He’s better known there than in the United States. They still know of the work he did helping save children from starvation during World War I,” she says.
In her work with the Hoover Institution, Ms. Matteson is following in the footsteps of her late father, Morris Arnold Cox, who was a great supporter of Stanford University and donated $8 million from the Volker Foundation to Hoover Institution.
Role models
Why have the Mattesons worked so hard for their adopted community?“A compelling desire to give back and the example of our parents. They proved excellent role models for us,” says Ms. Matteson. “And, happily, our two children, Melissa and Matt, are picking up the mantle of community service.”
Melissa Badger has been chairman of the “Rodin by Moonlight” benefit for Cantor Art Center at Stanford three times, and has served as chairman of countless events for the Junior League of Palo Alto/Mid Peninsula and Menlo School.
Matt Matteson is a trustee of Menlo School and served two terms as president of the California Apartment Association.
Both are involved in the company business. Matt is now president of all three operating Matteson companies, with two new ones in the works. Melissa, a commercial designer, does the design work for the company.
Despite all the Mattesons’ commercial success, family remains the heart of their lives. They love being with their kids and grandkids and take frequent vacations together.
Still busy with business, travel, or working out at Axis Performance Center, the Mattesons live by the philosophy, “Every day you should try to make a difference in other people’s lives.”
INFORMATION
Avenidas will honor seven Peninsula residents for “Lifetimes of Achievement” at a reception Sunday, May 21, from 2 to 4 p.m. at the home of Judy and George Marcus at 27900 Black Mountain Road in Los Altos Hills. Tickets at $65 each may be ordered by calling Avenidas at 289-5435, or online at Avenidas.org.
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