MEEKER | Well-known Meeker resident Anthony “Matz” Mazzola is this week’s “home of” honoree. Matz will be celebrating his milestone 50th birthday Feb. 12.
Matz moved to Meeker in 1978 with his parents, the late Roy Mazzola and the late Mary Ann (Mazzola) Sheridan, and siblings Gina, Kris, Cathy and Ray. He was 16 and a junior at Meeker High School when he met his high school sweetheart, Cheryl Ridgeway, shortly after he arrived in Meeker. Cheryl and Matz were married Aug. 15, 1981.
Matz is an investigator with the 9th Judicial District Attorney’s Office. Following his father’s passing in 1980, Cheryl and Matz purchased the family restaurant “Mama Mazzola’s” which they operated from 1981-1985. From 1986-1990, Matz and Cheryl lived in Germany where he was stationed as a U.S. Army sergeant. Matz worked for the Rio Blanco County Sheriff’s office prior to becoming an investigator with the D.A.’s office.
Anthony’s wife Cheryl works in the bank services department at the Meeker branch of First National Bank of the Rockies.
Matz is active in the Meeker community. He is a director on the White River Electric board, the Meeker Lions Club president, a member of VFW Post #5843 and a member of the Rio Blanco County Child Protection team. He believes in “paying it forward” to the community.
Cheryl and Matz have one son, Anthony “Bubba” Mazzola. Bubba is a junior at Colorado State University majoring in mechanical engineering.
Matz enjoys rock climbing, ice climbing, snowmobiling and 4-wheel drive rock crawling. His real passion is scuba diving and he is a certified scuba diving instructor. Matz’ wife and son are certified scuba divers. The family got the scuba diving bug when they vacationed in Mexico and went snorkeling.
For Cheryl and Matz’ 30th anniversary they went on vacation to the dive facilities at Roatan, Honduras.
Matz likes the small town atmosphere of Meeker, the beauty of the area, the friendly people because they are all like family and that we are very blessed to live here on American soil.
Happy 50th birthday, Matz!