Michael R. Malone

Mike Malone of New Milford, CT died peacefully in his home on November 8th, listening to music of a family recording from his childhood. He was able to give his last warm-hearted smiles of his fulfilling life to his family on the day of his death.

Born in Brooklyn, NY in 1943, he lived throughout his life in New York, New Jersey and Minnesota before residing in New Milford, Connecticut for the majority of his life.

Mike graduated from Bayley Ellard High School in New Jersey and was a graduate of Upsala College and Seton Hall University. He held a Masters Degree in Education as well as a Doctorate of Education, a principal’s certificate and a school supervisor’s certificate.

Mike served schools as athletic directors, teacher of history and coach positions in New Jersey, Minnesota, New York and Connecticut. He coached high school basketball for over 20 years and coached college and high school baseball for over 15 years. He worked for Gill St. Bernard’s School in NJ, Breck School in MN, The Harvey School in NY and at the University of Hartford in CT. He also coached and played professionally in Independent Baseball leagues. He ran marathons for nearly a decade while living in Minnesota. The highlight of his career was teaching history, especially units of the American Civil War. He concluded his career working for the American Red Cross in Danbury as the Director of Development. After retirement, he worked as a sales representative with Candlewood Marketing and owed the small business, The Soda Pop, which distributed old tyme style soda pop.

Mike loved all sports; one of his greatest passions was baseball. As a child in Brooklyn, Mike loved the old New York Giants baseball team, and later, The Minnesota Twins, but his life long devotion belonged to the New York Mets. Living in Connecticut, Mike turned his attention to the Danbury Westerners where he became affiliated with them for over 18 years. A former president, COO and Fundraising chair for the Danbury Westerners, Mike was involved in every aspect of the organization at one point or another. In spring of 2017, Mike received the Seri Award for perpetuating community partnerships, dedication and sportsmanship on behalf of the Danbury Westerners.

Above all Mike had a heart of gold. He always had a smile on his face and a joke to share. He put others first, was compassionate and would go out of his way to help others. Mike was the family historian and brought family and friends together. He was passionate about family history and his rich Irish Heritage. He was not too surprised when his DNA heritage test came back at 92% Irish.

He loved dogs, Christmas, books, sports, surprises and a good meal. He loved fun, laughter and singing in the house and family. He adored his wife, Sue and their children, Katie and Matthew as well as his grandson, Charlie. Charlie and Mike shared their love of ice cream and reading books together on a regular basis. Mike always made sure the freezer was well stocked with numerous types of ice cream as well as all of the toppings. Mike was very proud of the accomplishments that Katie, Matt, Clinton and Alicia had made in their careers, volunteerism, and athletics, as well as his wife’s dedication to her job as a pediatric physical therapist. He always spoke of Sue with admiration and pride.

Mike’s humor and jokes teetered between genuinely funny and terribly corny, but he was always cheerful. His positively was the most prominent factor in his personality. He loved making speeches and was always in his comfort zone standing behind a podium talking about baseball, fundraising, or family and friends with class and humor.

He is survived by his wife, Sue Hartman Malone of 41 years, his daughter Katie Malone-Smith and her husband Clinton Smith and their son Charlie Smith, all of Hinsdale, MA; his son Matthew Malone and his wife Alicia Matos Malone of Danbury; his sisters Molly Malone Evanoff and her husband Steve Evanoff of Osprey, FL, and Eileen Malone Reber of Venice, FL and Brother -in-Law Patrick Lenihan. He was predeceased by his sister Kathy Malone Lenihan in 2000 and his parents Richard Malone 1984 and Veronica Gallagher Malone 2012. He is survived by many nieces and nephews: Danny Evanoff, Julie Evanoff Mara, Mike Evanoff, Lizzy Evanoff Sibley, Chrissy Lenihan, Karen Lenihan Salazar, Patrick Lenihan, Pammy Lenihan Bernstein, Hermann Reber and Erin Reber Howey as well as dozens of close first, second cousins, and grand nieces and nephews.

Donations can be made to:

Danbury Westerners

Diebold Family Cancer Center in New Milford, CT

New Milford VNA Hospice