Missoulian Obituary
Saturday, Feb 21st 1998
written by John Madden.

Philip Maloney
MISSOULA - Philip Maloney died of a heart attack in Missoula on Thursday, Feb. 19. He was 57. He was born in San Francisco on July 18, 1940, to Marie Eckles Maloney and Philip Aloysious Maloney, and educated there in the Catholic grade schools and high schools. He entered the Society of Jesus in 1959 to study for the priesthood and continued his education with the Society, receiving his bachelor's degree from St. Louis University in 1964. Although he left the Society before being ordained, he retained fond memories of his year with the Jesuits and maintained an active correspondence with many former classmates and associates.

In 1966, he met his lifetime partner, Sheila Watson in St. Louis. They married on May 14 and moved to New York where they began a family of five children, while they both worked in humanitarian, anti-war and social justice projects at The Catholic Worker as colleagues of the late Dorothy Day.

Phil completed his master's degree in Russian at McMaster University in Ontario in 1969 and received his doctor of philosophy degree of the University of Pittsburgh in 1973. He came to the University of Montana as an assistant professor of foreign languages in 1975 and rapidly established a reputation as one of the most effective, popular and demanding members of the faculty. The Russian program flourished under his guidance. Enrollments grew, he led many successful study-tours to Russia and he became known as an authority on Russian religious writers and political dissidents of the early twentieth century.

Phil yielded to none in pride in his Irish heritage and his house was renowned for years for its St. Patrick's Day parties. The division of Ireland was a great sadness to him and he worked vigorously to heal that wound, supporting Project Children and hosting both Protestant and Catholic children from the North to help them learn to live in respect for one another.

Because of his robust common sense, enthusiasm and loyal camaraderie, Phil was often called on to serve in positions of leadership on the campus and in the Missoula community. He was an active member of Christ the King Catholic community and a member for many years and then president of the Loyola-Sacred Heart school board. At the time of his death, he was state vice-president and president of the Missoula chapter of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, and a member of the executive board of the Missoula County Democratic Party Central Committee. On the University of Montana campus, he was always a member of several important committees, including the Faculty Senate, was a stalwart member of the Teacher's Union for 23 years, a longtime member of the executive board, and president from 1990 to 1991.

He is survived by his wife, Sheila at the family home; one son, Philip ''Max'' and his wife, Ellan of Memphis, Tenn.; four daughters, Katie and her husband, Chris DeSoto of Missoula, Bea and her husband, Joel Kaleva of Helena, Eileen Marie of Missoula and Ruthanne and her husband, Cam Higgins of Kansas City, Kan.; and also by his sister, Tish and her husband, Rick Slavens of Palm Desert, Calif.; and by three grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his father in 1962 and his mother in 1997.

A traditional Irish wake for friends will be held at the family at 5 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 22, followed by Mass of the Resurrection at Christ the King Church on Monday, Feb. 23, at 11 a.m. It was his request that, instead of flowers, donations be made to Project Children, in care of John Agner, 1701 Missoula Ave., Missoula, Mont., 59802.

Arrangements are by the Garden City Funeral Home and Crematory.
 



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