Tuhia he tohutoro mō tēnei wāhanga - I whānau a Mathisen ki Arlington, Virginia i te tau 1954. Ko tana papa, ko Chris, he kairipoata pakanga i a ia i te United States Navy i te Pakanga Tuarua o te Ao, a, i hipoki i te Whakaaetanga o Hapani
i runga i te USS Missouri, ā, i muri mai he kaiawhina whakahaere mō Burr Harrison. He kaitoi tōna whaea, a Meri. I puta ia i te Whare Wānanga o Virginia i te tau 1976.