The following Eulogy for Mata Plumb, former Regional Director of LA-DI-Land, was written and presented at her services Sunday, July 29, 2007 by our Affiliate Director, Dick Pinney, on behalf of all of us.

Mata Plumb and Destination ImagiNation

It was in Ames Iowa in the summer of 2000 at the first Global Finals of Destination ImagiNation that I first met the dynamic and wonderful Mata.  I was at the Team Manager and Official’s party, feeling a little out of place, when this little redheaded lady from Pasadena waved to me, saying, "Dick Pinney!"  She had a pin she wanted to give me. She made me feel a real part of what was happening.

This was Mata.  She made you feel good.  Her smile was infectious, her deep caring for all just permeated her being, and her positive attitude affected all who knew her.

It was at Ames that she became the adopted grandmother of a little overwhelmed, young team from Andover Massachusetts.  Mata forever enriched the lives of the team members and their coach, Sherry Shulik.  In fact, Sherry and Mata became dear friends.

A few years later, she read on the DI Yahoo group that someone from Indiana didn’t have a roommate for Globals.  Mata, true to form, offered to be her roommate.

At Globals, she enriched so many lives.  When she appraised, she made the teams feel at ease with her genuine interest in them.  Many team managers mentioned that Mata was a high point of their team’s global experience.

Mata read the DINI list religiously and whenever anyone had a question, needed advice, or sought assistance, Mata was always there with her experience, her sage advice, her willing ear, and her unwavering belief in the ability of kids.   Many never had the opportunity to meet Mata, but through her posts and personal messages, they knew and loved her.

In her local region, Mata served for many years as the regional director.  While most regions were showing a decrease in high school memberships, Mata was able to grow the number.  The new regional director along with five of the board members being Alumni reflects her success.  Her unlimited support and encouragement made this happen.

As Affiliate Director of California, I had the opportunity to attend her region’s tournaments.  I can remember Mata encouraging the teams throughout the day.  She would see many presentations and was ever-present with a smile and words of encouragement.

At the tournament two years ago, during the closing ceremonies, the regional board and many others expressed their appreciation for all that Mata had done for them.  It was a very special moment.  You could just feel the positive energy in the gym.  The standing ovations by all present were awesome.

Through her involvement in DI, with encouragement, positive attitude, and her true caring for all, Mata is loved by untold thousands of children and adults throughout the world.

While we are grieving for Mata, we have to think how fortunate we have been to have her in our lives.  She lived by what this quote implies.

What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others. -Pericles

Mata, you are truly woven into the lives of us all.