Dr. James M. "Jim" Malloy

Dr. James M. Malloy (Jim), 89 of Natrona Heights, passed away, surrounded by his loving family on Saturday, January 17, 2026, following a brief illness. He was born July 8, 1936, in Germantown, Pennsylvania, the son of the late James and Genevieve (DeLaney) Malloy. Jim lived in Natrona Heights for the past several years, and prior to that in the Florida Keys and in the Eastend of Pittsburgh during his adult life.

Jim was a political scientist, published author and United States Army veteran. Jim graduated high school in Philadelphia, received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Temple University, studied at University of California, Berkeley for a specialization in Latin America studies, and received his Ph.D. from the University of Pittsburgh.

Dr. Malloy authored the seminal work Bolivia: The Uncompleted Revolution (1970), followed by Beyond the Revolution (1971), beginning decades of influential research and publication on regime change, authoritarianism, and democracy in Latin America. He taught generations of undergraduate and graduate students as a Full Professor and, as Chairman of the Political Science Department, led its rise to national and international prominence. Jim was also one of the key intellectual forces behind the founding of the prestigious Latin American Studies Center at the University of Pittsburgh. He concluded his 35-year tenure at Pitt as a faculty member of the Honors College.

A voracious reader, thinker, and writer, Dr. Malloy was also a political theorist, philosopher, and theologian who never stopped reading, reflecting, or engaging others in thoughtful conversation. Everyone who spoke with Jim came away having learned something new.

Jim was an adventurer of both life and nature—an explorer who led his sons on many extended journeys, on foot and by canoe, into the deep reaches of the Andes Mountains and northern Canada.

In retirement, Jim and his wife, Mary Ellen, cherished traveling and time spent with family, especially in his beloved role as PopPop to his grandchildren.

Survivors include his wife of 30 years, Mary Ellen (Kuskoski) Malloy; his many children: son Michael James (Marie-José) Malloy of Adams Township; son Daniel (Evelyn) Blank of San Francisco, California; twin daughters Judith Blank of Pittsburgh and Rebecca Blank of Lower Burrell; daughter Julie Crowell (Maju) Varghese of Arlington, Virginia; and son Clint (Rachel) Crowell of Natrona Heights; and six grandchildren: twin grandsons Max Malloy of Economy and Marc (Cassie) Malloy of Wexford; grandsons Evan Varghese, Cole Blank, and Cormac Crowell, and granddaughter Anna Crowell. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, David Malloy.

The burial and all services will be private. Arrangements by Duster Funeral & Cremation Services, Inc., 347 E 10th Avenue, Tarentum, PA, 724-224-1526, dusterfuneralhomeinc.com

Donations may be made in Jim’s memory to the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, pittsburghfoodbank.org.