COL. E. TERRY MATTKE, USMC (RET.) (1944 - 2018)

Terry died April 18, 2018, after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease. He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

Terry came to Princeton from North Kansas City (MO) High School, where he was a member of the debate and tennis teams. At Princeton he majored in history, belonged to Quadrangle Club, served as a Keyceptor, and was an eight-season member of the Rugby Club.

After graduation he joined the Marines and embarked on an outstanding military career. He was the first Marine Harrier pilot to serve as an interchange officer with the British Air Force. He graduated from the Armed Forces Staff College and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. His final duty station was the White House, where he served four years as military aide to Vice President George H. W. Bush.

Terry retired as a Colonel in 1989. Making his home in Norfolk, VA, Terry enjoyed boating, travel, and golf and was active in the Princeton Club of Hampton Roads.

He is survived by his wife of 38 years, Patricia; daughters, Dawn and Jennifer; sons, Scott and Gregory; ten grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. The Class extends its heartfelt condolences to them.

Click here for Terry's obituary, and here is the PAW Memorial. Colin Hamilton attended Terry's memorial mass on behalf of the class.

Please reply directly to this email if you have additional information or photos about Terry that you would like to share with the class. We will add them to the memorial page.

Classmate and Other Comments

Jim Mays. "Another great '66 Marine. I'm on my way to Quantico this week for my 50th Basic School Reunion. Will also spend some time at The Wall and check in with 1st LT Ed Keeble. RIP, SF."

Rich McConnell. "Oohrah Colonel. Bravo Zulu."

Colin Hamilton, who represented the class at Terry's memorial service: "I never knew Terry until a couple years ago when I saw Terry wearing a PU shirt at my exercise class for people with Parkinson's. I was truly surprised to then learn that he was also a '66 er.

Terry appears in this 1992 NYT article, THE 1992 CAMPAIGN: Political Memo; How Perot Tries to Edit the Press (and the Past?) on Prisoner-of-War Issue.

Photos: The photos at the top are from the Freshman Herald and the Nassau Herald. The first photo below shows Terry as president of his high school political science club, and the second is from his obituary.