Scholarship Honors John DeMatteo: Law School’s “Beating Heart”

A scholarship has been established to honor John DeMatteo, the law school’s longtime maintenance supervisor, often affectionately called “Dad” by both crew members and students over the years for his wisdom, kindness, work ethic, and sense of humor.

The John DeMatteo Memorial Scholarship will be awarded to a male or female rugby player and/or a male or female United States armed forces veteran.

“John DeMatteo was like an all-purpose player on a major league sports team. He could play every position. He, of course, knew the custodial end of the business, but he also knew the supervisory end of the business,” said Bill Pulos ’80, who is spearheading the scholarship effort.

“It didn’t matter if you were faculty, administration, staff, students, guests. No matter who it was, he was polite. He was diligent. He was helpful. And if somebody asked him for something or asked him to do something, he did it. He knew the place inside and out,” Pulos said. “He was the beating heart of Albany Law School.”

DeMatteo, who passed in 2011, worked at the law school for more than 34 years. He often hired students to assist with cleaning the 1928 building from top to bottom each night and supervise the parking lot.
The student hires helped keep the halls tidy but the job was also a way of surviving for many.