Joseph T. Maloy

Others knew him as Professor, Researcher, Eagle Scout, Scouter and Trader, Devout Catholic, and Pro-Life Advocate. He knew himself as a lifelong student of the liberal arts, a devoted family man, a loyal friend and someone who strived to do the right thing. He also was the classic example of the Myers Briggs personality type INTP--Introverted, iNtuitive, Thinking, Perceiving; he often joked he wanted INTP on his tombstone.

It is only fitting that he died on the Feast of Saint Nicholas because one of his pleasures was to give the unexpected gift, without his name associated with it, of course. However, his gift to us is his life.

Joseph was born April 19, 1939 in Mount Pleasant, PA, to Josiah Maloy and Helen Przybylski. He was raised in the nearby town of Scottdale where his family owned a restaurant/bar. He attended St. John the Baptist grade school and shared his love of cherry pie with the love of his life, Sister Agnes Geraldine. He went on to graduate from Scottdale High in the class of 1957 and was accepted on full scholarship to Saint Vincent College. There, while earning a B.A. in math he earned his spending money delivering St. Vincent bread to people along his day hop car pool route. It was also there that his career path was initiated. Saint Vincent touched his life in many ways. He said, “…perhaps the most important of which is this: it only takes one teacher to transform a good education into a great education.”

After graduation he accepted a teaching position at Ramsay High School. It was there that he encountered his future wife sitting in the front row of his chemistry class. During his four years at Ramsay he completed a second major in chemistry. In 1965 NSF came up with a program to beat the Russians to the moon by sending high school teachers to graduate school. Joe accepted a fellowship to the University of Texas at Austin that resulted in an M.A. in analytical chemistry and with an extended grant a Ph.D. in physical chemistry. He completed his dissertation, Electrogenerated Chemiluminescence at a Rotating Ring-Disk Electrode, which served as the only engagement ring he could afford.

In 1970 he accepted an analytical teaching position in the Chemistry Department at WVU in Morgantown, WV. On the way from Austin to Morgantown he stopped off at St. Vincent to marry Marlene at the Archabbey Basilica on Labor Day weekend. Fond memories of Morgantown included an addition to the family, his beloved daughter, Delia. In 1979 he decided to accept a position in the Chemistry Department at Seton Hall University. To stay active scientifically throughout his more than 50 years of teaching he participated in research programs at Wright-Patterson AFB, the Air Force Academy at NASA Lewis Research Center and AT&T Bell Labs in Murray Hill, NJ. During his last decade at SHU he directed his energies to his final cause in Catholic education, namely the development of a course on the Catholic intellectual tradition within his scientific discipline and for three years held a joint appointment in Chemistry and Catholic Studies.

During the last decade of his life he was proud to be Angie’s Grandpa. The weekend visits and the annual trip to Hershey and Latrobe were the highlights of each of their lives. The last words he heard were: “I love you, Dad.” “I love you, Grandpa.” “I love you, Joseph.”

Joseph is survived by his wife of 50 years Marlene Kluska Maloy, daughter, Delia and her husband Lee-Am Furer, granddaughter Angie Regina Furer, brother-in-law, Marion Kluska and his wife Phyllis, and many cherished extended family members.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Saint Vincent College, Office of Institutional Advancement, 300 Purchase Road, Latrobe, PA 15650-2690.