Background
Mattei was born in Bodrum, Turkey to a Jewish family and educated in the American Collegiate Institute, İzmir.
Mattei was born in Bodrum, Turkey to a Jewish family and educated in the American Collegiate Institute, İzmir.
Bachelor in General Science, Brandeis University, 1965. Master of Science in Astronomy, Ege University, 1970. Doctor of Philosophy, Ege University, 1982.
Master of Science, University Virginia, 1972.
Later, she was offered a job by Dorrit Hoffleit at the Maria Mitchell Observatory in Nantucket, Massachusetts. She worked at Leander McCormick Observatory in Charlottesville, Virginia from 1970 to 1972 and received her Master of Arts in Astronomy from the University of Virginia in 1972 and her Doctor of Philosophy in Astronomy from Ege University in Izmir, Turkey, 1982. As head of the AAVSO for over 30 years, she collected observations of variable stars by amateur astronomers from around the world.
She coordinated many important observing programs between amateur observers and professional astronomers.
She was also keenly interested in education and student science projects. Asteroid 11695 Mattei is named in her honor.
She died of leukemia in Boston in March 2004.
Member International Astronomical Union, American Astronomical Society, Astronomical Society Pacific (board directors since 1993).
Daughter of Baruh and Polise (Isbir) A. Akyüz; married Michael Mattei, December 17, 1972.