March 22, 2006 – December 14, 2012

“James Mattioli especially loved recess and math, and his family described him as a ‘numbers guy’ who came up with insights beyond his years to explain the relationship between numbers.” He was born at the Bridgeport Hospital. His family called him “J” and claimed that the reason he was born four weeks early was “because he was hungry.” His favorites were “hamburgers with ketchup, his Dad’s egg omelets with bacon, and his Mom’s French toast.” He wondered how old he would have to be to order a foot-long ham sandwich (a favorite) at Subway. “He loved sports and wore shorts and T-shirts no matter the weather. He was a loud and enthusiastic singer and once asked, ‘How old do I have to be to sing on a stage?’” He usually awoke before anyone else in the family. He was best friends with his older sister. “He was a thoughtful and considerate child, recently choosing to forgo a gift for himself and use the money to buy his grandfather a mug for Christmas.” [1]

From Legacy.com

James was loving, energetic, enjoyed baseball, basketball, swimming, arm wrestling and playing games on the iPad. He wore shorts and t-shirts in any weather. “James loved to dive off the diving board at the Treadwell Pool, swim like a fish in both of his grandparents’ pools and ride his bike.” His older sister, Anna helped him to further his reading skills. “He loved to cuddle on the couch at the end of the day with his Mom grabbing his pillow and brown fleece blanket. He adored spending time with his Dad doing yard work, walking at Fairfield Hills and watching him grill burgers on the deck. If Dad was outside, James wanted to be right there with him. Their love of one another was one of a kind and James was his Dad’s mini look-a-like. James was especially thoughtful and considerate, always the first to welcome guests at the backdoor with a hug and his contagious smile. James loved all teachers and staff at Trinity Day School and Sandy Hook Elementary School…” James loved playing hockey with his cousin, George. [2]

James Mattioli, (Rex Features via AP Images)

James will be incredibly missed by his Mom and Dad, Mark and Cindy, his sister Anna, grandparents Jack and Kathy Radley of Sherrill, NY, John and Angelina Mattioli of Stamford, Connecticut, aunts and uncles, Mark and Lynn (Mattioli) Forrest of Stamford, Raymond and Susan (Mattioli) Higgins of Mahopac, NY, Laurie (Doyle) Mattioli of Arlington, MA, Trevor and Stephanie (Radley) Bonat of Concord, NH, Nicholas and Melissa (Radley) Guarracino of Oxford, CT, Marybeth Radley of Washington, DC, Marcus Radley of Hartford, and cousins Lexi, Dana, Chelsea, Angelina, Juliana, Sophia, Lucy, George, Jane, Charlotte and Stryker. [3]

The Mattioli family received friends at the Spadaccino and Leo P. Gallagher & Son Community Funeral Home in Monroe, Connecticut on Monday, December 17, 2012 between the hours of 2-4 and 6-8pm. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at St. Rose of Lima Church in Newtown, at 10am on Tuesday, December 18, and he was buried at St. John’s Roman Catholic Cemetery in Darien, Connecticut. [4]

Pallbearers carry James’s casket out of St. Rose of Lima on December 18, 2012

Mourners

Mourners exit the funeral of James R. Mattioli, one of the children killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings, at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Newtown on Tuesday, December 18, 2012.

Cindy Mattioli, mother of James Mattioli, speaks during the playground dedication ceremony Saturday. Mark and Cindy lived in Milford before moving to Newtown.

Cindy said that it was appropriate that a playground honoring James was constructed in Milford. She said, Milford “is where we brought our children home after they were born. It’s where he played on his first playground.”

Saturday was James’ birthday, and a plane towed a sign overhead that read, “A gift to Milford on my birthday, James.” Cindy said, “Today is the day James would have and should have turned eight. “One of his favorite sayings, before he went to bed, was ‘I love ya, I love ya all’.” [5]

? Happy 8th Birthday in Heaven James Radley Mattioli

Milford firefighters have combined forces with the Milford Recreation Department to conduct a benefit fund-raiser for the project. [6]

[1] The Newtown Shooting Victims: Who They Were, https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/The-Newtown-Shooting-Victims-Who-They-Were-183658461.html; retrieved 12/13/2017

[2] James Mattioli, News Times, http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/newstimes/obituary.aspx?pid=161773043; retrieved 1/11/2018

[3] James Mattioli, News Times, http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/newstimes/obituary.aspx?pid=161773043; retrieved 1/11/2018

[4] James Mattioli, News Times, http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/newstimes/obituary.aspx?pid=161773043; retrieved 1/11/2018

[5] Jill Dion, Playground dedicated to young Newtown victim, on his birthday, Milford Mirror, 3/22/2014, https://www.milfordmirror.com/14341/playground-dedicated-to-young-newtown-victim-on-his-birthday; retrieved 1/11/2018

[6] Ryan Burns, Volunteers build playground in honor of young Newtown victim: dedication Saturday, Milford Mirror, 3/19/2014, https://www.milfordmirror.com/13818/volunteers-build-sandy-ground-playground-at-academy-property-in-milford/; retrieved 12/24/2017