Mary Ann Mattone was raised by parents for whom giving to
others was simply the right thing to do. Although not rich in the
material sense, her parents believed that a generosity of spirit
was a gift from God that could only be enjoyed by sharing it with
others. The young Mattone took these values to heart, and when it
came time for her to select a career that would allow her to give
of herself to others, psychiatric nursing became her ideal
choice.
Spirit of Service Award Video Presentation
Eager to ease the sufferings of patients in both body and mind,
she was educated in New York City, earning her R.N. from the Lenox
Hill Hospital School of Nursing, her B.A. from Marymount Manhattan
College and her M.P.H. from Columbia University. Mattone briefly
interrupted her career as a Psychiatric Nurse to teach English to
the officers of the Iranian Air Force, and subsequently returned
home to serve as Research Coordinator for Neuroendocrine Studies in
Depression for the Chairman of Psychiatry at Albert Einstein
College of Medicine, who was also the Director of Psychiatry at
Bronx Municipal Hospital. A gifted researcher, writer,
administrator and practitioner, she was
named Co-Director of the Child Depression Clinic
at the New York State Psychiatric Institute, and has co-authored 26
scientific articles in the field of psychiatric research.
Intellectually curious and always eager for new challenges and
experiences, she later began a new career on Wall Street, where she
acquired valuable financial knowledge and experience, and then
joined the family real estate business, managing multi-unit
properties throughout the greater New York metropolitan area. Mayor
Rudolph Guiliani initially appointed her as his representative to
the Queens Botanical Garden and in 1994 named her as a member of
the Cultural Advisory Board of the City of New York.
Mattone is a Trustee of the Queens Borough Public Library,
Chairperson of Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio's Annual Christmas Luncheon
to promote scholarships for children from Brooklyn and Queens and a
member of the fundraising team for the Ozanam Nursing Home. She has
previously served as President, Vice President, Secretary and
Treasurer of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Columbus Citizens
Foundation. On April 7, 2010, Queens Borough President Helen
Marshall proclaimed Mary Ann Mattone Day in Queens.
Recognizing her outstanding commitment to the Vincentian values
of compassionate concern for others, St. John's University awarded
her the President's Medal in 2003. In 2009 she was confirmed by
Pope Benedict XVI to receive Knighthood in the Order of St.
Gregory the Great for her efforts on behalf of those less
fortunate.