Kevin James Malley

With great sadness, we write to inform you of the passing of my husband, our father and grandfather, Kevin J. Malley. Kevin died peacefully at home in Las Vegas, NV on March 10, 2018 at age 80 after battling Parkinson’s disease. His wife of 54 years, Sheila, was at his side. Kevin is survived by his loving wife, Sheila, his children James and wife Laura, Matthew and wife Maria, Carolyn and husband Mike, Diane and husband Mark, his brother Joseph, his sisters Barbara and husband Fran, Elaine and husband Richard, his 11 beautiful grandchildren, Sabrina, Michael, Sheila, Teo, Daniel, Eric, Samantha, Rachel, Sean, Ciara, and Savanna, in addition to many nieces and nephews.

Kevin was a truly amazing man and held family and faith in God in the utmost importance. His family owes him a world of gratitude for setting the best example he knew how for being a great husband, father and member of the community. His warm personality and gentle smile immediately brightened up every room he entered and situation he encountered. His life experiences gave him perspective and confidence that helped him lead our family through good and tough times.

Kevin was born and raised in Watertown, MA, the son of Joseph and Agnes Malley. Faith, education and striving to make a better life for future generations were the foundation of his upbringing. Sports, time with family and friends and summer caddy camps at Cape Cod were among the childhood memories he shared most fondly.

During his college years he met and fell in love with Sheila Carr. They were married on July 6, 1963 and began a lifelong journey of creating a strong family, supporting one another and living God’s way in every aspect of their lives. They settled in Wayland, MA.

Kevin graduated from Babson College, earning a bachelors degree in accounting. He began his career as an accountant with the Peat, Marwick & Mitchell firm (now KPMG) and became a Certified Public Accountant. Despite a demanding schedule, Kevin continued to hold family and faith at the forefront. In 1970, the firm offered him the opportunity to move west and lead an expansion into serving clients in the casino gaming and hospitality industry.

After a year in Los Angeles, Kevin moved our family to Las Vegas where he would live a fulsome life, continue to nurture and grow, with the arrival of a fourth child, his young brood, and help to shape, legitimize and build the casino gaming business from its storied past into the mainstream industry that it is today. His name was and remains synonymous with integrity, character and determination to succeed in all aspects of his life.

In 1972, he joined the Caesars World organization where he rose within the accounting and finance ranks to ultimately become Chief Financial Officer and Chief Administrative officer. His work with the Nevada CPA society helped to create the accounting and operational control practices which are today’s standards and the bedrock upon which the gaming industry was able to access mainstream capital markets to fuel the growth that one can see across the modern Las Vegas skyline. At Caesars he not only ran the company’s finances, but also expanded the business in Latin America and Asia, oversaw multiple expansions at its flagship Caesars Palace property and developed its Caesars Tahoe property.

On the personal side, Kevin was all about family, faith in God and community. In addition to dinner in the evening, mass on Sunday and family vacations, he attended each of his children’s school and sporting events and was always there to lend an ear or help with any school or personal issues they encountered growing up. It was critical to Kevin that all his children were all afforded the opportunity to have the education necessary to follow their career ambitions and dreams. His priority toward family is evidenced by the eleven grandchildren who survive him - we are a big and strong bunch, the extended Malley family. The family’s compassion for and empathy toward one another is attributable to both Kevin and Sheila. Kevin's faith in God was extended to us and he set a great example by serving on the parish board of Our Lady of Las Vegas church, the focal point of his adult religion. He was generous with his time and support for several area charities, as well as continuing to serve the Nevada CPA Society.

In 1985, Kevin was given the opportunity to run the Desert Inn Hotel and Casino as Chief Executive Officer. During his tenure, the Desert Inn's profitability grew rapidly as Kevin and his team were able to capitalize on the resort's renowned brand and a savvy appetite for risk taking to enable it to compete against the rising behemoths in attracting high end business. Throughout his management career, he always led with a fair, empowering style which brought out the best in all his colleagues and employees, many of whom went on to senior positions across the industry.

In his early 50's, Kevin left the high-pressure world of casino resort management to participate in the blossoming growth of gaming across North America. He helped form the regulatory regimes for casino gaming in Detroit, Windsor, Ontario and several tribal jurisdictions. This afforded him the flexibility to enjoy life while using the skills he had developed throughout his career.

In his golden years, Kevin attained perhaps his greatest satisfaction and joy in being a grandfather. Together with Sheila, he made countless trips to visit his now spread out extended clan on the east coast, in California and Oregon. His grandchildren will enjoy memories of days at the beach, playing ball, fishing and hanging out with Grandpa Kevin and Grandma Sheila for the rest of their lives. In 2004, he amicably endured an Italian tour during his beloved Red Sox first World Series championship during his lifetime, struggling each day to get updates on the prior day's results before the advent of widespread internet access. I guess that made his enjoyment of the 2007 Series championship, as well as the Patriots' later success, all the more sweet. Kevin met his battle with Parkinson's bravely and was able to live free of pain and suffering, overcoming a partial stroke in 2016 and living out his last days in comfort in his home of nearly 50 years.

Kevin, our hearts are heavy and you will be sorely missed, but our love and prayers for you will endure. The example you set is one we will seek to emulate throughout our lives. God bless you and our whole family.

Love,

The Malley Family