Abel David "Dave" Demattos

A Peaceful Passing

Abel David DeMattos — known to nearly everyone as Dave — passed peacefully at his home in January 2026 with his wife of 62 years, Yvonne, by his side, holding his hand.

Dave was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, uncle, and brother — a steady presence whose life was shaped by hard work, education, and a deep, unwavering love for his family. He believed in showing up, doing things the right way, and building a good life one careful step at a time.

Early Life & Values

Dave was born in November 1940 in Utica, New York, to Portuguese immigrant parents. He learned responsibility early in a household defined by resilience, discipline, and pride. Those values stayed with him throughout his life. He shared a close bond with his siblings, his late beloved brother Tony, and his sister Veronica.

As a young man, Dave was athletic, curious, and motivated. He played basketball and baseball, ran track, and discovered a lifelong love of music when he picked up a trumpet in fifth grade. He marched in his high school band, served as a leader, and joined the Utica Drum Corps — beginning a passion for drum and bugle corps that never faded.

A strong student, Dave graduated from Proctor High School as president of the National Honor Society — all while never missing a single day of school. Through scholarships and determination, he earned an economics degree from Kenyon College in 1962, graduating debtfree, and later earned his MBA from the University of Chicago on a full academic scholarship.

A Love Story Worth Retelling

In August 1963, Dave’s life changed in a moment that felt almost cinematic. As he stepped into anelevator at a party he was about to leave, the doors opened and Yvonne stepped in. His buddystepped off and said, “Dave, are you coming?” With his eyes locked on my mom, he replied, “No…no, I’m not.”

He stayed in the elevator in a true loveatfirstsight haze. What followed was a night of laughter anddancing to Frank Sinatra until sunrise. Four weeks later, they were engaged. Four months after that,they were married — beginning a steady life together built on love and the quiet certainty ofchoosing one another every day. Even when it was hard.

Family Life & Fatherhood

They began married life in a small Chicago apartment and started their family almost immediately, welcoming David Scott, Steve, Matt, and Ron backtoback — four baby boys in their early twenties. They had very little at first; Yvonne handsewed the children’s clothes while Dave worked and traveled. Through moves to Illinois, New Mexico, Texas, Colorado, and finally Michigan, the closeness of the family never changed.

Nearly a decade later, Alyssa — their only daughter — arrived as a joyful surprise, completing the family.

As a father, Dave led by example. He instilled a strong work ethic and a belief in the power of education. He coached teams, traveled to hockey tournaments, and spent countless hours at rinks and ballfields. His love showed up early, stayed late, and never wavered.

As his five children became adults, Dave was “blown away” (his words) by their remarkable career success — and even more so by the kind, grounded humans they grew into, shaped by the principles he and Yvonne lived and taught.

In later years, Dave was lovingly known as “Papa Bear.” Nothing brought him more joy than his grandchildren, and he always smiled the most when he was with them.

A Career of Steady Work Ethic

Dave spent his entire career at Ford, where his work ethic and reliability earned respect and opportunity. He retired in 1998 at age 58, then spent nearly a decade leading Northville Rec basketball as commissioner — bringing together two things he loved most: sports and the Northville community.

Simple Pleasures & The Things He Loved

Dave loved the familiar comforts and routines that made life sweet:

Apple picking Empire apples at Erwin’s Orchard, followed by cinnamonsugar donuts and cider
Detroit sports teams (and annual March/Meat Madness)
Drum Corps International “DCI” finals with his brother Tony and their families
History books and movies — especially Footloose, Hoosiers, It's A Wonderful Life and Love Actually
Angel hair pasta with “clunker shrimp,” Grandma’s chicken, and Guernsey Ice Cream
Bocce ball with his kids
Ford cars — only. Fiercely loyal to Ford Motor Company
Saving money at every opportunity (thermostat down, lights off when you leave the room!)
A fresh stick of Trident gum
A hot cup of coffee in his favorite tumbler while reading the Detroit newspaper in the sun on the back porch with his pup Buddy — his real favorite child — at his feet

His Happiest Places

His happiest places included skimming and swimming in the backyard pool during the kids’ younger years, the annual tradition of lighting Christmas Eve luminaries with family, and talking game recaps of Detroit sports with his boys over a giant plate of pasta and meatballs with his kids.

Later in life, his favorite place was home on West Main — settled into his chair under his “Sammy Blanket,” with Yvonne, whom he lovingly called “Hun” or “Eve,” in her chair beside him and their dogs close by.

Those He Leaves Behind

Dave is survived by his sister Veronica DiLeo; his sisterinlaw Louise DeMattos; his wife, Yvonne DeMattos; his children David Scott DeMattos, Steve DeMattos, Matt and Nancy DeMattos, Ron and Shong DeMattos, Alyssa DeMattos, and Anthony Wichtman; his grandchildren David, Brandon, Zach, Sammy, Bree, Ryan, Jake, and Allie; and his beloved dogs, Buddy and Roxy.

His Legacy

Dave’s legacy — rooted in love, hard work, and devotion to family — will continue through his children, grandchildren, and the generations that follow. In the end, in his final moments, his greatest comfort was exactly what had always defined him: a steady life, a warm home, the sound of his children’s boisterous laughter drifting from the next room, and Yvonne holding his hand, gently telling him she would meet him again.

His story lives on in the people who loved him — in every inside joke, every holiday tradition, every Detroit sports recap shared across generations, every apple picked, every bocce ball thrown.

And just as he lived, Dave left this world quietly, faithfully, and deeply loved.

In Loving Memory of

Dave Demattos