James Pitágoras de Mattos December 28, 1942 – February 2, 2026

James was born on December 28, 1942, in the city of Porto Murtinho, in the state of Mato Grosso, where he completed his early education. Son of José Augusto de Mattos and Nise Mesquita de Mattos, he moved to Rio de Janeiro at the age of 12. In 1962, he began his medical studies at the Medical School of the University of Brazil, now the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ). The university was located near the Urca neighborhood and was the most prestigious in Brazil.