WEBSTER – With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of Victor “Vic” A. DeMattia, Jr., 89, who died Monday, March 23, 2026, leaving behind a legacy of love, wisdom, strength, and countless happy memories.
Known for his steadfast devotion to his family, Vic leaves behind his truly beloved wife of 64 years, Margaret “Peggy” A. (Doyle) DeMattia; 5 adored daughters, Mary Elizabeth “Liz” Provencher and her husband Richard of Ashford, CT, Patricia A. Munsch and her husband Mark of Southbridge, Marlene Auclair of Webster, Elynn A. DeMattia of Thompson, CT, and Rebecca J. “Becky” Jha of Charlton; 9 cherished grandchildren, Richard Provencher and his wife Heather, Regann DiCamillo, Ashley Ambrose and her husband Greg, Erin Messier and her husband Timothy, Kayla Dulak and her husband Justin, Ryan Munsch and his wife Emma, Jonathan “Jake” Wood, Vikram Jha and Emerentiana Jha; 11 treasured great-grandchildren, Julie, R.J., Nate, Noah, Charlotte, Connor, Sophie, Lucy, Diana, Calvin and Rory; 2 sisters, Madeleine Gruber and her husband Peter of Miami, and Regina Reid of Nantucket; and numerous cousins, nephews and nieces he so loved.
He was born in Passaic, NJ, on December 17, 1936, the son of Victor A. DeMattia, Sr. and Alice (O’Brien) DeMattia. An adventurous spirit, Vic and Peggy resided in numerous places over the years, beginning in Detroit, MI, then moving to East Longmeadow, MA, and settling in Somers, CT, while enjoying summers on the lake in Webster, MA, for over 53 years. Upon retirement, Vic and his wife enjoyed warm winters and beautiful sunsets in Vero Beach, FL, for 24 years.
He graduated from Saint Peter’s Preparatory School in Jersey City, NJ, in 1954, and joined the United States Army in 1956, where he was stationed in Kaiserslautern, Germany, and won the Army Talent Contest as a member of the Men’s Vocal Choir. Following his years of service, Vic went on to earn his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Detroit in 1963, where he proudly noted that his first daughter said “Hi, Daddy” as he received his diploma.
Vic’s personal passions and professional career soared upon graduation, allowing his incredible brilliance and gifts to shine. He began working at Mechanical Handling Systems where he drafted and designed automobile parts. Shortly thereafter, he started designing airplane engines at Vickers Inc. in 1963. He went on to work as a rocketeer on ballistic missile systems, propulsion systems, and numerous satellites at Hamilton Standard in Windsor Locks, CT. In 1976, he made a leap of faith and purchased Fepco, Inc, a screen-printing company, in Vernon, CT, which grew steadily with his use of state-of-the art technology. As the business expanded, Vic designed a new facility himself, earning regional recognition in Metal Construction News for its energy-efficient innovation and design function. He owned and operated Fepco until his retirement in 1989.
A man of endless creative ideas and unrivaled work ethic, upon “retiring” he went on to design both sail and power boats, winning Sailing World’s Boat of the Year in 2000 for his design of the Aerodyne 37. His boundless passion for building, designing, and restoring boats continued for all the years of his life, where he meticulously cared for his Boston Whaler, various sail boats, and where he enthusiastically devoted numerous volunteer hours to expanding facilities and restoring and repairing boats at Youth Sailing Foundation in Vero Beach, FL.
From mixing cement and epoxy, to building decks and mowing the lawn, Vic was truly a legendary man of endless hobbies and interests who took great pride in working with his hands and enjoyed all aspects of life. While he loved opera music and Oktoberfest, chicken marsala and tiramisu, dirt roads and old stone walls, most of all, his greatest loves were his Lord and his family, who he cherished beyond all things.
His funeral will be held on Monday, March 30, at 11:00 AM at Saint Joseph Church, 10 H. Putnam Road, Charlton (please meet at the church). The family will receive relatives and friends beginning at 10:00 AM in the church prior to the Mass. Military honors will be provided by the Webster-Dudley Veterans Council. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in his name to Youth Sailing Foundation Community Sailing, P.O. Box 612, Vero Beach, FL 32961. Arrangements are under the direction of Sitkowski, Malboeuf & Hickey Funeral Home, 340 School Street, Webster.