We’re sorry to share the news that Rob Mattson, former longtime coordinator for the Ballard District Council and unofficial “Mayor of Ballard” has passed away at the age of 69. He retired from the council in 2013 and moved to Oak Harbor, where he’s lived for the past five years.
Mattson worked for the city for over 40 years, and spent most of that time as the city’s representative to Ballard and other nearby neighborhoods. When the Ballard District Council formed in 1988, he was at the forefront, always present at the monthly meetings. His service to the council and Ballard cannot be understated, and his views on Ballard were of the old-school, if you will.
In an interview with The Ballard News-Tribune when he retired, Mattson scoffed at a then-recent USA Today article that named Ballard as one of the best destinations tourists hadn’t heard of yet.
“You read that kind of stuff as an old timer and you think: Some carpetbagger is writing a new script for this neighborhood. Young, hip, cool. Part of me wants to sort of reject that and say ‘No. No, that’s not Ballard. A few cool bars does not define Ballard.”
Rather, Mattson told The Ballard News-Tribune that he saw Ballard as a “complex neighborhood”, full of tradition and history.
“There’s no place my father holds more dearly than Ballard,” his son Jason Mattson says. He shared the following obituary with My Ballard:
Robert W. Mattson, 69, passed away Wednesday, September 5, 2018 at his home in Oak Harbor, WA.
Born March 8, 1949 in Mankato, MN, he was the son of Dr. Bruce Douglas and Mary Lou Neely Mattson.
He is survived by his parents; wife Mary Moore Mattson; son Robert Mattson Jr., son and daughter in law Jason and Tabitha Mattson, son and daughter in law Samuel and Myranda Mattson; daughter and son-in-law Sarah Mattson and George Calderon; grandchildren Benjamin, Maya, Quinton, and Fox Mattson; brothers Bruce Douglas Mattson Jr. and Daniel Mattson; five nieces and nephews; longtime friend Kathy Spencer, and his trusted guide dog Tyrone (“Ty”).
Rob’s legacy is defined by his extraordinary service to the community, dedication to his family and refusal to let blindness stop him from doing anything.
In his professional life, Rob was the first Neighborhood District Coordinator for the Ballard neighborhood when the “Little City Hall” program started – 46 years ago. He mentored many of the Coordinators and set the bar high for accountability from City employees. Ballard neighbors and businesses depended on him and always knew they could call Rob and get a thorough, researched, balanced answer. He loved the work and it showed. He helped the city effort to accommodate the needs of the homeless and then turned to coordinate the visits of Gustav of Sweden and Olaf of Norway. When he retired in 2013, members of the business community and residents roasted and toasted their “Mayor of Ballard”.
Rob was well read, cerebral, and a strong leader, but he also enjoyed getting dirty and taking chances. One fall morning his brother came to pick up Rob and his boat to go fishing in Shilshole Bay. He told Rob it was so foggy that you couldn’t see anything, to which Rob responded: “So what?! Let’s go!”. A professional tinkerer, he owned numerous cars and boats over the years. His last was a 26-foot Columbia sailboat that he kept moored at the Oak Harbor Marina. As a lifelong fisherman, Rob was adept at rigging for salmon trolling. He loved getting together with his brothers for repairs and projects of all kinds, always coming prepared with tools, electronic equipment and plenty of enthusiasm.
Rob had an adventurous spirit, a tenacious desire to try new things, and an infectious laugh. He taught his children a strong work ethic, the importance of spending time with family, and to focus on love and compassion in the face of adversity. He will be missed dearly.
Photo courtesy of the Ballard News-Tribune, Westside Seattle. Photo by Pulitzer Prize winner Jerry Gay