There is an old saying which goes. “Any man can be a father, but it takes an exceptional man to step up and be a daddy.”
No one epitomises this better than Gary Matalon. No stranger to the local social scene, the boardroom as well as our television screens with the hugely popular entrepreneurial television show ‘The Innovators’, Gary Matalon is a man much in demand for his insight, ideas and investment backing.
Yet, for all of his business acumen, nothing brings him greater joy than his primary role of being a father. His laid back, happy-go-lucky style and his casual yet calming personality make him a cool dad who is always up for an outdoor adventure, an evening of football or to drive carpool when needed. He takes the time to demonstrate his love not just in words, but through meaningful actions.
I just want them to be happy. I want them to remain close to each other and just be a tight unit.
Gary Matalon allowed us to invade his offices, his home and his private life recently as BUZZZ Magazine sat down with him to share his thoughts and feelings on being a 21 st -century father and the lessons he has not only taught his offsprings but learnt along the amazing journey called fatherhood.
Gary Matalon shared that he was just coming off the stressful GSAT week with his son. Of course, when your children do exams, it is almost as if you the parent were sitting the examination as well. “Yes, March had been super busy for us as a family as Sydney, the oldest turned thirteen so we had to really celebrate that and then Jacob had GSAT right after so I guess the family can relax a little now.”
Being a “hands-on” kind of dad comes easily for him as he had the blueprint provided by his father early in his life. He ably demonstrated how a working man can still be a full-time father and love every minute of it.
My dad was super hands-on as far back and as I can remember, my old man was always there. Both my older brother Louis and I played football eight days a week and he was president of the football club, he coached both of our teams and when we travelled to different games he was always there. Ten of my friends would pile up in his car so he wasn’t just my dad, he was everybody’s dad. There would always be a bunch of people sleeping over plus he was a full-time businessman so you wonder how he did it all. You literally had to keep things from him if you wanted him not to turn up.”
With a father that integrally involved himself in the development of his children’s lives, Gary learnt his value system and certain principles that he would put into play throughout his life.
“I learnt from my father, honesty and integrity, that jumps out over everything else. Anyone who comes across him will agree. My parents split when I was eight, but they were always nice and civil to each other so my brother and I didn’t feel the impact. They respected each other and strived to ensure that our foundation was never shaken by anything negative.” These were tenets he sought to carry over into his own union with the love of his life, Tina Myers-Matalon, his life partner of more than twenty years. When recalling his thoughts, the moment he was handed his first child in the delivery room, Matalon confessed that having read so much about pregnancy, labour and delivery, he was an encyclopaedic nervous wreck throughout the experience.
“When I found out Tina was pregnant I bought every book I could find and read them from cover to cover. At the doctor’s appointment, the doctor wanted to know which medical school I went to and all of that contributed to my anxiety. I remember the delivery room was extremely overwhelming and emotional. I was videotaping it and Tina was in labour for like thirty-six hours and very fatigued. It was a lot to deal with as it was very exhausting and just something else. In the end, though, we got a perfect little baby. That was Sydney.”
Though he confessed that he is not much of a dirty diaper kind of dad, he is nevertheless all in with everything else.
“I have the most amazing children. There is Sydney who just turned thirteen, Jacob who is eleven, just did GSAT and the baby Haley who is a superstar. They are all very different. Sydney is artsy and creative whereas Jacob is very much like me in many ways, very organised. They both do very well in school but Sydney works hard while for Jacob it comes naturally.
I love how hilarious he is. I love going to the beach or the trampoline park with him cause he’s just like us!
Sydney
The ‘wash belly’ Haley turned two in September and she is the real boss lady. Her personality is just happy and she is pure entertainment for the entire family. She knows this and has a great sense of humour because she loves to make people smile.”
So what does this family man wish for his children in the future?
Gary Matalon, Photographer: Jordache Jones, Make-Up: Ariel Hitchener
“I just want them to be happy. I want them to remain close to each other and just be a tight unit. We eat dinner together every night and that is important to us because we get that chance to communicate about what went on at work and at school and that is a good base for us to galvanise the family unit.”
When asked if raising children in today’s society is any different from say three decades ago, Gary Matalon said it is not the epoch that is important, it is how involved you make use of your time with them.
Share this post:
There is an old saying which goes. “Any man can be a father, but it takes an exceptional man to step up and be a daddy.”
No one epitomises this better than Gary Matalon. No stranger to the local social scene, the boardroom as well as our television screens with the hugely popular entrepreneurial television show ‘The
Innovators’, Gary Matalon is a man much in demand for his insight, ideas and investment backing.
Yet, for all of his business acumen, nothing brings him greater joy than his primary role of being a father. His laid back, happy-go-lucky style and his casual yet calming personality make him a cool dad who is always up for an outdoor adventure, an evening of football or to drive carpool when needed. He takes the time to demonstrate his love not just in words, but through meaningful actions.
Gary Matalon allowed us to invade his offices, his home and his private life recently as BUZZZ Magazine sat down with him to share his thoughts and feelings on being a 21 st -century father and the lessons he has not only taught his offsprings but learnt along the amazing journey called fatherhood.
Gary Matalon shared that he was just coming off the stressful GSAT week with his son. Of course, when your children do exams, it is almost as if you the parent were sitting the examination as well. “Yes, March had been super busy for us as a family as Sydney, the oldest turned thirteen so we had to really celebrate that and then Jacob had GSAT right after so I guess the family can relax a little now.”
Being a “hands-on” kind of dad comes easily for him as he had the blueprint provided by his father early in his life. He ably demonstrated how a working man can still be a full-time father and love every minute of it.
My dad was super hands-on as far back and as I can remember, my old man was always there. Both my older brother Louis and I played football eight days a week and he was president of the football club, he coached both of our teams and when we travelled to different games he was always there. Ten of my friends would pile up in his car so he wasn’t just my dad, he was everybody’s dad. There would always be a bunch of people sleeping over plus he was a full-time businessman so you wonder how he did it all. You literally had to keep things from him if you wanted him not to turn up.”
With a father that integrally involved himself in the development of his children’s lives, Gary learnt his value system and certain principles that he would put into play throughout his life.
“I learnt from my father, honesty and integrity, that jumps out over everything else. Anyone who comes across him will agree. My parents split when I was eight, but they were always nice and civil to each other so my brother and I didn’t feel the impact. They respected each other and strived to ensure that our foundation was never shaken by anything negative.” These were tenets he sought to carry over into his own union with the love of his life, Tina Myers-Matalon, his life partner of more than twenty years. When recalling his thoughts, the moment he was handed his first child in the delivery room, Matalon confessed that having read so much about pregnancy, labour and delivery, he was an encyclopaedic nervous wreck throughout the experience.
“When I found out Tina was pregnant I bought every book I could find and read them from cover to cover. At the doctor’s appointment, the doctor wanted to know which medical school I went to and all of that contributed to my anxiety. I remember the delivery room was extremely overwhelming and emotional. I was videotaping it and Tina was in labour for like thirty-six hours and very fatigued. It was a lot to deal with as it was very exhausting and just something else. In the end, though, we got a perfect little baby. That was Sydney.”
Though he confessed that he is not much of a dirty diaper kind of dad, he is nevertheless all in with everything else.
“I have the most amazing children. There is Sydney who just turned thirteen, Jacob who is eleven, just did GSAT and the baby Haley who is a superstar. They are all very different. Sydney is artsy and creative whereas Jacob is very much like me in many ways, very organised. They both do very well in school but Sydney works hard while for Jacob it comes naturally.
The ‘wash belly’ Haley turned two in September and she is the real boss lady. Her personality is just happy and she is pure entertainment for the entire family. She knows this and has a great sense of humour because she loves to make people smile.”
So what does this family man wish for his children in the future?
“I just want them to be happy. I want them to remain close to each other and just be a tight unit. We eat dinner together every night and that is important to us because we get that chance to communicate about what went on at work and at school and that is a good base for us to galvanise the family unit.”
When asked if raising children in today’s society is any different from say three decades ago, Gary Matalon said it is not the epoch that is important, it is how involved you make use of your time with them.
Read: William Mahfood maintaining a long life legacy
Follow the Buzzz on instagram
Share this post: