- Date Of Birth: January 10, 1965
- Date Of Death: February 14, 2021
- State: Ohio
Michael Francis Maloney
January 10, 1965 – February 14, 2021
At 56, Mike, was the youngest of seven children born to Robert and Margaret Maloney of Linden in Columbus. He attended St. James the Less grade school, St. Francis DeSales High School, and graduated from Beechcroft High School in 1983. Throughout grade school and high school, Mike participated in sports, a standout in football and track, and went on to play freshman football at Columbia University. Mike developed his athletic speed in the church field behind our house on Grasmere Ave. where he was chased by his five older sisters yet rarely caught.
We don’t know why God chose St. Valentine’s Day to take Mike. Perhaps it is because he had a quiet but large heart. He was kind, always accepting of others no matter how different. He never ever boasted of a good deed he’d performed ~ and believe us, there were many. Without hesitation, he would step up to help family, friends, even friends of friends, with car repairs, home projects, moves and to assist in the preparation of tax returns. Even in death he was still helping others as an organ donor to Lifeline Ohio.
Mike was never the center of attention in a room, preferring to sit back, observe and enjoy the fray. If you weren’t listening, you might miss his quick wit, but never his smile. He had a mischievous side but those stories are better left to be shared among his posse ~ friends he loved dearly. A deep thinker, Mike would not thrust his opinions on you, but if you were lucky and inquired, he’d share his intellect with you.
If you knew him, you will likely describe Mike as loyal, and although he was the “baby” of 7 kids, after our mom’s stroke, we found him to be the wisest among us.
Mike cherished his Irish heritage and his weekly outing to the Shamrock Club for dart night. He loved the Buckeyes, the Browns (a Dawg Pound regular), bourbon, barbecue and nearly all genres of music. Attending music festivals was a guilty pleasure as were his pilgrimages to New Orleans and the Kentucky Derby. He was an avid reader, enjoying history, Irish sayings, blessings and poetry. He also enjoyed working with his hands. From his high school Mustang Fastback, he proudly named the “Gray Ghost” after having painted it with gray primer, to his most recent white van, he dubbed, “Vanna White,” he always loved to tinker with cars, revealing an optimistic outlook that he could figure out a way to fix just about anything.
Above all, Mike LOVED and is survived by his life partner, Patricia Jackson, and daughters Iyonna Jackson and Margaret (Maggie) Maloney (proudly named for Mike’s mother). Mike is also survived by siblings Terri Houston (Bill (deceased)), Dan (Ruth Ann) Maloney, Kathy (Jamie) Havens, Marty (Randy) Detwiler, Julie (Jim) Nugent and several nieces, nephews, cousins and dear friends. His parents, Bob and Maggie and sister Molly Maloney are waiting for him in Heaven.
We are blessed to call Mike Maloney our Angel. In his honor, we ask all of you to be kind to others as he was. Although we may never know the pain that lies beneath the masks any of us wear, cloth or otherwise, perhaps with a little bit of kindness all of us can help to heal someone else’s shattered heart.
May Joy And Peace Surround You,
Contentment Latch Your Door,
And Happiness Be With You Now,
And Bless You Evermore
An Irish Blessing, particularly meaningful to Mike.
Sláinte!
