On Saturday, April 2, Herman Mattleman, a civic giant, respected lawyer, and longstanding chairman of the Philadelphia School Board, died of acute dementia at his downtown home. Herman Mattleman, a lawyer and former president of the Philadelphia School Board. He died of advanced dementia which is a leading cause of death in the United States. He was 96 at the time of his death.
He grew up in the city of Philadelphia. His parents were immigrants from Russia. The family settled in Strawberry Mansion, a modest Jewish suburb in Philadelphia. He earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania. Mattleman grew up in a close-knit Jewish community that prioritized education and family.
Mattleman voiced a number of concerns about expenses and suppliers. He never missed a board meeting and introduced a new leadership style to the board, one based on consensus and collaboration. Studies showed that the number of public school pupils in the city in poor to fair health was more than double the national norm, which disturbed Mattleman. He understood that Philadelphia’s schools needed to meet not only the students’ basic educational demands, but also give a sense of security and community.
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He was the type of father who volunteered for carpool duty and wrote his children daily letters when they were at camp. According to his son Jon Mattleman, he was low-maintenance, enjoyed it when his wife was in the spotlight and was fiercely devoted. His wife Marciene Mattleman died in 2019, leaving him with three children. His funeral time and location will be announced soon.