Christopher O'Connell Mattingly, 55, of Leonardtown, 9th child of Mary Catherine O'Connell of Leonardtown, MD and the late Judge Joseph A. Mattingly, Sr., passed away peacefully on Sunday, August 19, 2012 surrounded by the love of his family.

Born May 11, 1957 at St. Mary's Hospital in Leonardtown and raised in Medley's Neck, he attended Father Andrew White for grades 1-4 then transferred to Leonard Hall Junior Naval Academy in Leonardtown for grades 5-8. Chris graduated from Chopticon High School in 1975. In 1982, Chris received the President's highest honor for outstanding school performance from Sacramento City College in California. He graduated from the University of California at Davis in 1986 with a bachelor of arts degree in Political Science.

In 1986, Chris came home to start a family with Rita Harnapp. He was committed to his children -- a very involved father when they were young -- always straight forward and supportive of Megan and Robbie. Chris was a truth-teller, even if the truth was hard to digest. He enjoyed reading, intellectual conversation, and time spent with family and friends.

Chris battled a rare form of cancer. He left his paying job as shipping manager at Animas Corporation (provider of insulin pumps) in January of 2008 and took on multiple volunteer projects; it was important to him to remain useful, in spite of his own battle.

He volunteered with Chore Connection-Surrey Services in Havertown, PA driving seniors to medical appointments and providing a variety of other helps to the people he served, helping overwhelmed seniors sort through, organize and dispose of clutter; packing and unpacking several seniors for moves (at times soliciting additional help from his family) and making special Thanksgiving and Christmas food deliveries.

He also took a number of seniors under his wing, taking them to lunch or coffee after a stressful medical appointment and being a listening ear in the midst of loss or failing health. It was not unusual for Chris to show up for Thanksgiving dinner with one of his senior friends. His care and befriending provided a real safety net for many of the people he served. His efforts allowed many seniors to remain longer independently in their own homes, and also coordinated necessary moves, when that was no longer safe.

Since 2010 when their database began, Chris provided nearly 2000 hours of reported service - reported, because as he developed relationships beyond a formal ride, he stopped recording hours. He didn't record hours spent with strangers that had become friends. Chris also volunteered regularly at Thorncroft Therapeutic Riding Program serving special needs populations. He was a big, strong man, but his demeanor was kind and gentle.

Chris is survived by his mother, Mary Catherine O'Connell "Billie" Mattingly, his two children, Megan Catherine Mattingly of Lansdale, PA and Robert Brendan Mattingly of Sanford, NC; his eleven brothers and sisters, Joseph A. Mattingly, Jr. of Leonardtown; Helen Victor of Falls Church, VA, Jane and her husband Dal Beavers of Hollywood, MD; John F. Mattingly of Leonardtown; Louise and her husband Bob Mann of Dameron, MD; Martha Mattingly and her two children Connell and Caroline Derksen of New York, NY; Patricia, her husband Dennis, and their four children Anita, Beth, Tony and Brooke Strittmatter of Bowie, MD; Robert, his wife Darcie, and their two children Kevin and Jane Mattingly of Hollywood, MD; Thomas Mattingly of Ocean City, MD; Lillian and her three children Nathan, Alex and Maggie Mills of Hollywood, MD; and Leila and her two children Mathew and Brian Rothschild of Austin, TX.

Chris was preceded in death by an infant sister, Mary, and his father, Judge Joseph A. Mattingly, Sr.

Family will receive friends on Thursday, August 23, 2012 from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. in the Brinsfield Funeral Home, 22955 Hollywood Road, Leonardtown, MD 20650. A Funeral Service will be held on Friday, August 24, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. in the Brinsfield Funeral Home Chapel. Interment will follow in Our Lady's Church Cemetery in Medley's Neck.

Serving as pallbearers will be Chris' nephews: Joe, Andy, Steven and Kevin Mattingly, Nathan and Alex Mills, Connell Derksen, Tony Strittmatter, and Mathew and Brian Rothschild.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice of St. Mary's, P.O. Box 625, Leonardtown, MD 20650, Chore Connection -Surrey Services, 1105 Earlington Road, Havertown, PA 19083. or Thorncroft Therapeutic Riding Program, 190 Line Road, Malvern, PA 19355.

Arrangements by the Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A., Leonardtown, MD.