Remembering Ben Mathews Jr.

We have lost our inspirational friend and webmaster Ben Mathews.  Ben passed on December 23, 2022. He loved us all in Class of ’63.  Our local Reunion Committee members attended his funeral, and I was honored to speak for all of us. Because we now lack Ben’s webmaster skills and communication skills, some classmates might not receive this reunion announcement.  Therefore, please help us by checking with friends and forwarding this email to any who missed it.

— Hank Greenwald

Benjamin Bryant Mathews Jr. died on Friday, December 23, 2022 at the age of 78. Preceded in death by his father, Benjamin Bryant Mathews, his mother, Ruth Moore Mathews and his sister Kathleen Mathews Patterson. Survived by his daughter Robin Elizabeth Mathews of whom he was extremely proud. Robin is a famous Academy Award Winning Makeup Artist for the movie industry.

He is also survived by his love of 40 years, Maxine Tewis Dixon, her three daughters, Melissa Ann Dixon, Sandra Fay O’Meara and Lori Elizabeth Dixon and her granddaughter Mackenzie Fay O’Meara. Ben loved them as if they were his own. Ben was known to them as Paw Paw.

Ben graduated from Fortier High School in 1962 and was still on their reunion committee when he died. He was also adopted by Fortier Class of 1963 and served on their reunion committee until his death. He graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi with Highest Honors in 1968. That year he started a career in real estate and became a real estate broker shortly after.

Over the years Ben managed several real estate offices and was twice awarded “Manager of the Year” by the New Orleans Metropolitan Association of Realtors. Ben had three major hobbies in his life. He built and flew model airplanes starting when he was ten years old. Over his life he accumulated four Academy of Model Aeronautics National Championships. Another of his hobbies was boat racing. Ben owned and drove two racing boats, The Wild Side, a 280 Hydroplane and The Dinah Might, an E-Service Runabout. He owned the Dina Might with his partner and good friend, Nick Manale. Ben was still a member and officer in the New Orleans Power Boat Association at his death.

He also had a lifelong interest in photography. His grandparents were photographers and had a famous studio on Royal Street, C Bennette Moor Photography. Ben spent time there in his youth where he acquired his passion for the art. He built a computerized dark room in his home. Ben also loved interacting with his two, absolutely perfect pups, Buud and Ashley.