Carlos Humberto Diaz-Matos

Carlos Humberto Diaz-Matos, MD, 81, of Mount Vernon, NY formerly of Pelham Manor, NY passed away peacefully on Monday June 20, 2022. Born in Barahona, Dominican Republic, Carlos was the eldest of three children. He was raised in the Dominican Republic, where he attended local schools before graduating from the Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo, which he proudly told everyone was the oldest university in the New World, with his first degree in medicine. He continued his medical studies at the University of Miami and San Juan (Puerto Rico) Municipal Hospital, following which he moved to New York City for a residency at St. Luke’s Hospital in adult and child psychiatry. He was board certified as a Diplomate in both Psychiatry and Child Psychiatry and rose to the rank of Associate Professor at Cornell University.

Saint Luke’s was a special place for Carlos as it was there he met his wife of 52 years, Mary-Louise (née Gentile), who was then the supervising Nurse of Psychiatry. Carlos stood out to her among the interns for his respect and care for the patients and for his intelligence and sense of humor with everyone he met. His career as a psychiatrist flourished for nearly 60 years, working with patients until his passing.

Carlos and Mary-Louise married at Notre Dame Church in upper Manhattan then later moved to Pelham Manor, NY, where they raised their children. He came to love Mary-Louise’s hometown of Salisbury, CT, where the family spent many summers. Carlos and Mary-Louise were very engaged in the community, especially the Catholic Church and supporting their children’s many activities.

Carlos will be remembered as a brilliant man. He was quirky, intellectual and had a wonderful but dry sense of humor. In his spare time Carlos enjoyed listening to music, reading, writing and sketching.

Being “Papí” to his seven grandchildren was his greatest joy.

Carlos is survived by his beloved wife, Mary-Louise, and their four children: Andrew Diaz-Matos of Hartford, CT, his fiancée Josye Utick, and Andrew’s children, Rebecca and Adam with his ex-wife Michelle Fish; Anthony and Melissa (Czarnowski) Diaz-Matos of New Rochelle, NY and their son, Aidan; Stephanie Diaz-Matos of Brooklyn, NY and her daughter Ilana Friedel; and Alexander and Anne (Burns) Diaz-Matos of Falmouth, MA and their three sons, Asa, Ansel and Alden. He is also survived by a brother, Polibio Diaz, a sister, Benny de Brugal, and many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews, all in the Dominican Republic. Carlos is predeceased by his parents Bernardo and Altagracia María (Matos) Diaz and his son-in-law, Scott Friedel. He will be deeply missed by extended family, friends, colleagues, patients and everyone who knew him.

A celebration of Carlos’s life will take place on Thursday June 23 from 4:00 - 8:00PM at the Pelham Funeral Home located at 64 Lincoln Avenue, Pelham, NY. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 10:00AM on Friday June 24 at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church located at 575 Fowler Avenue, Pelham Manor, NY. Interment will follow at Saint Mary’s Cemetery, Cobble Road, Salisbury, CT. A luncheon to immediately follow at The Boathouse, Lakeville, CT.