The Jamesburg High School (JHS) Alumni Association will honor Richard J. Matteo at its second All-Class Reunion set for April 26.
Matteo, now 81 years old, served as coach and athletic director at Jamesburg High School from 1943 until the school’s closing in 1979. During his 85-season coaching career, he led his teams to 845 wins and 29 state, group and conference championships in soccer, basketball and baseball. For his efforts, Matteo was elected to the Soccer Coaches of New Jersey Hall of Fame in December 1988 and to the New Jersey Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in June 1992.
The alumni association invites former students to share their Coach Matteo memory with him and with other alumni. The association will publish the memories in booklet form for presentation to the former coach at the reunion. Copies of the booklet will also be made available to alumni at a later date.
In addition, the association commissioned artist Deb Hoeffer to draw a portrait of Matteo. Using photographs of him taken over the years, Hoeffer produced a portrait depicting Coach Matteo in the prime of his coaching career. After the reunion, the original artwork will be placed in the Jamesburg High School Room at Lakeview, the Buckelew Mansion. Members of the alumni association presented a copy of the portrait to Coach Matteo and his wife earlier this year. Copies of the artwork are available for purchase.
Individuals who would like to share a memory of Coach Matteo with other alumni may e-mail it to [email protected] or send it to the Jamesburg High School Alumni Association, c/o Auto King Parts, 67 East Railroad Avenue, Jamesburg, NJ 08831.
Written memories should be kept as short as possible. All submissions must include full name, address, telephone number and JHS class. All submissions become the property of the alumni association and may be edited for size and content.

