Emilio "Che Che" Eduardo Mata

Emilio “Che Che” Eduardo Mata (70) passed away on May 2, 2026 in Tampa, Florida after a courageous 5 year battle with cancer. 

Che Che was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina in 1955 to Dr. Fernando and Violeta Mata.  The family moved to the United States in 1957, eventually settling in Mansfield, Ohio.  Che Che had a deep love for both Ohio and his homeland of Argentina, and he frequently shared his particular fondness for his time in Cuenca at the Chalet and Almacen.  Che Che attended Ashland University, graduating with a bachelors degree in Radio/Television.  He later went on to complete post-graduate programs at Harvard and UCLA.  

In 1979, Che Che met the love of his life, Nikki LaYacona, in their hometown of Mansfield.  Nikki and Che Che married in 1982 and spent the next 5 years traveling the East Coast together, from New York and Connecticut, to North Carolina and Fort Lauderdale, Florida, before ultimately settling back in New York City.  They had two daughters, Mia and Alex, who they raised in Cortlandt Manor, New York before relocating to Denver, Colorado in 2000.  In 2020, Nikki and Che Che hit the road to embark on a new adventure and settled in Sarasota, Florida.  They also spent as much time as possible at one of Che Che’s most treasured places, the Mata’s family farm in Holmes County, Ohio.

While in college, Che Che started working for ABC Sports, which began his successful career in the television industry.  He loved to recount the story of working a broadcast of his beloved Ohio State Buckeye’s playing in The Game.  Before taking the field, Che Che was tasked with holding the team in the tunnel.  Che Che came face to face with Coach Woody Hayes, who disagreed.  “Let’s go boys,” Woody yelled, as the team surged out of the tunnel, ripping down the TTUN’s M Club banner – footage that has lived on in infamy and is still used today.  

Che Che moved to New York City after graduation and began working for NBC.  His career would ultimately take him across the country and world while working for HBO in New York, New York and later Starz in Denver, Colorado.  His career and travels were not only a point of pride, but also an endless source of vibrant stories.  He often marveled at the opportunities he had to meet people and travel to places that would have been out of reach for most. And afterward, there was always the story to entertain us all.

Anyone who had the privilege of spending time with Che Che can attest to his magnetic personality and engaging storytelling.  He had a unique ability to connect with anyone and everyone. To know Che Che was to love him.  His passions ran wide and deep - there were few things he loved more than rooting for The Ohio State Buckeyes on a Fall Saturday, eating Nikki’s homecooked meals, watching every F1 race, playing and watching golf, attending his car shows, skiing everywhere from Bariloche  to Snowtrails to Vail, and sailing Lake Erie, to name a few.  He truly was a force of nature with an energy impossible to replace, and he will be greatly missed.

As Don King once said, “Now THAT’S the Che Che I know!”

Che Che is preceded in death by his parents, Dr. Fernando and Violeta Mata.  He is survived by his wife, Nicole, daughters Mia and Alexandra (Brittany) Mata, Zeke (his Australian Shepherd), siblings Dr. Fernando Mata (Cristina), Vivi Mata (Richard), Mariche Mata Hayduk (Scott), and Adriana Mata (Dan), and several nieces and nephews.  

Memorial arrangements will be made for a future date and location.