Matthew Gyolai

Matthew A. "Mattie" Gyolai
1933 - 2020

Thomaston, CT Matthew “Mattie” A. Gyolai, 87, husband of Doris (Pimentle) Gyolai, died peacefully on December 5, 2020.

Matthew was born on April 1, 1933 in New England, North Dakota, son of the late Frank and Margaret Gyolai, and was the youngest of 10 children. He was pre-deceased by his 3 brothers and 6 sisters. He was raised on the family farm that was granted to his parents by the U.S. Government through the Homestead Act. In 1951, Mattie enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served active duty in the Korean War. He was honorably discharged in 1955. During that period, when on leave in Fall River, MA, he met and fell in love with the love of his life, Doris Pimentle. They were married on May 7, 1955 and stayed together until his death. He attended North Dakota State University, and graduated in 1962 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering. In 1963, the young family moved to East Hartford, CT where Mattie began his corporate career at Pratt & Aircraft. He retired from Pratt & Whitney in 1991. After retiring, he was an influential presence helping his 2 sons, Mark & Todd, establish and grow one of the area’s premier custom home building contractors, Matthewson Custom Homes, LLC. Mattie was an avid Green Bay Packers “cheesehead” as well as a lifelong Boston Celtics fan. As much as Mattie loved his 2 sports teams, it did not compare to his favorite pastime of spending time with his family, who he cherished.

In addition to Doris, his wife of 65 years, Matthew is survived by his 2 sons, Mark and his wife Maria Gyolai and Todd and his wife Sally Gyolai; his daughter, Erin Losty, and her partner, Ken Cassella; his grandchildren, Brianna, Aubrinne & Shyler Losty and Zachary, Connor & Joshua Gyolai. In addition to his parents, Matthew was pre-deceased by his son, Craig Gyolai.


A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, December 21, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. at Our Lady of Loreto Church, 12 Ardsley Road, Waterbury. Those attending are asked to please meet directly at church. Burial with military honors will follow in Mount Olivet Cemetery, Watertown. Everyone is required to wear a facial covering and to adhere to social distancing guidelines for all services. There are no calling hours and arrangements have been entrusted to the Buckmiller Thurston Mengacci Funeral Home, 82 Fairview Avenue, Naugatuck. In lieu of flowers, to honor his memory and his love for his wife, donations can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association of CT, 200 Executive Blvd South, #4B, Southington, CT 06489.