Harry Matthews was born July 3, 1926 in Pittsburgh PA to Charles Hale Matthews, Jr. and Annabel McEldowney Matthews. He died suddenly on November 24, 2008 in New York, NY.
Harry is survived by and was the loving husband of Catherine Caldwell Teague Matthews, the loving father of Charles Hale Matthews IV (Chip) of Palm Beach FL, William Gordon Gibson Matthews (Bill) of New York NY, and James Newell Matthews also of New York NY. He is also survived by his former wife and the mother of their children, Sylvia Ondek Hudson of Palm Beach FL.
Harry was a proud graduate of Culver Military Academy, and of Yale University, Class of 1951. He was a veteran of the United States Army, serving in the Phillipines in 1945. He was the principal and co-founder of Matthews Mitchell, a member firm of the New York Stock Exchange.
Harry was a very proud and active member of Clan Donald USA, and an avid researcher into all things Scottish, both in the USA and in Scotland. He could be found collecting books on all phases of Scottish culture, or dancing at Scottish Country Dances almost anywhere in the USA, Canada, and Scotland. He was an Officer, Trustee, Director and Life Member of many Scottish and Scottish-American organizations, including the New York Branch of the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society and Scotia Dancers, the American-Scottish Foundation, the St. Andrews Society of the State of New York, the New York Caledonian Club, the National Trust for Scotland, the Scottish Tartans Society, the Museum of Islay Life, the West Highland Museum in Fort William, Scotland, and many other organisations.
Harry was very active in the development of and concerned with the ultimate progress of Clan Donald USA, the Clan Donald Foundation, Inc., and the Clan Donald Lands Trust. He believed that everyone should actively participate in learning about and sharing their heritage and culture.
"There is no Joy without Clan Donald" was not just a poet's declaration to Harry, but was his lifeline. The highlight of each year was a month-long tour of the west coast of Scotland, each year featuring a different island or two. The museums along the way will remember how he would explore everything, asking questions, chatting about the prospects, and leaving a donation behind.
The Memorial Service will be held at 3:30 pm on Thursday, December 11, 2008 at the Frank E. Campbell Funeral Chapel on Madison Avenue at 81st Street in New York City. His ashes will be privately interred at Homewood Cemetery in Pittsburgh PA.
In lieu of flowers please help to continue Harry's cultural educational efforts with donations in his Memory to the following:
