LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Dr. Vera Mattingly upon the occasion of
her designation for special recognition

WHEREAS, Dr. Vera Mattingly has given not only of her time and energies
but also of her competence, intelligence and leadership and consequently
has been designated for special honor; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to honor Dr. Vera
Mattingly upon the occasion of her designation for special recognition
on Saturday, March 28, 2009, at Boys and Girls High School in Brooklyn,
New York; and
WHEREAS, Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Vera Doris Wilcher's
family later moved to Brooklyn, New York; her parents made certain
through their own personal sacrifices that both of their daughters
receive an education; and
WHEREAS, Vera Wilcher and her older sister, Juanita both attended PS 5
grade school; Vera would then go on to high school and graduate from
Girls High School in 1941; and
WHEREAS, After high school, Vera Wilcher first worked for the Works
Progress Administration; working various jobs, including as a keypunch
operator, she had the desire to become an opera singer; and
WHEREAS, Vera Wilcher made her debut at Carnegie Hall in New York City
in the early 1940s, and was also a member of the Carlton Y Glee Club;
while attending a vocal rehearsal in Manhattan, she met Frederick H.
Mattingly, an aspiring musician; and
WHEREAS, Frederick and Vera married in 1946 and resided in Brooklyn,
where they started a family; while raising the family, Vera earned a job
in the Registrar's Office at Brooklyn College which would soon change
her life and start her career in the academic community; and
WHEREAS, Vera Mattingly's work ethic afforded her the ability to work,
go to school and raise a family; she left Brooklyn College to work at
New York City Tech, along with studying at City University earning her
B.A. degree in 1972; and
WHEREAS, Frederick and Vera Mattingly, both avid believers in educa-
tion, managed to send all of their children to college; shortly there-
after, they moved to Brooklyn Heights where Vera took on a new role in
the administration at Kingsborough Community College; she then earned a
Masters degree in Political and Social Science from the New School of
Social Research in 1975; and
WHEREAS, Grounded spiritually, Vera Mattingly became a member of
Bethel Baptist Church; while continuing to raise a family, she and her
husband, Frederick, traveled extensively around the world; and
WHEREAS, Looking into the future, Vera Mattingly decided to continue
her education and earned a professional degree from Fordham University
in 1979; after 34 years of marriage, she was widowed in 1980; and
WHEREAS, Soon after, Vera Mattingly expanded her civil responsibil-
ities by joining various professional organizations, including: BNP, Phi
Beta Kappa, the Shirley Chisholm Cultural Center, Girls High Alumni
along with the Carlton Y Glee Club; and
WHEREAS, In 1982, Vera Mattingly followed her granddaughter and became
a member of the Concord Baptist Church of Christ; while working at
Kingsborough and raising her granddaughter, Vera went back to school in
pursuit of a Doctoral degree from Fordham University which she was
granted in 1990; and
WHEREAS, Retiring in 1994 from Kingsborough Community College as
Assistant Dean of Instructional Services, Vera Mattingly continued to
travel while raising her granddaughter; and

WHEREAS, After losing her son, Laurence, in 1997, Vera Mattingly
became President of the Shirley Chisholm Cultural Center for Children
and a member of the Girls High Alumni, both of which she serves today;
and
WHEREAS, With her throughout have been her children, Jacqueline,
Frederick, Jr., and Gary, as well as her 11 grandchildren, seven great-
grandchildren, and her great-great-grandchild, all of whom feel privi-
leged to be a part of her life and rejoice in her achievements; and
WHEREAS, Rare indeed is the impressive dedication shown by an individ-
ual for the benefit of others which Vera Mattingly has displayed
throughout her life; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Dr. Vera Mattingly upon the occasion of her designation for
special recognition; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Dr. Vera Mattingly.