John Malcolm Visbal
October 4, 1930 - October 5, 2023
Born in San Francisco to Marie Lynch and Efraim Visbal. Mal grew up in a loving family in Sacramento and San Francisco with his parents Marie and Walter Meyerkamp, and his sister Sharon.
Mal graduated from Sacred Heart High School in 1948 and the University of San Francisco in 1952. Upon graduation from USF, he was commissioned into the U.S. Army as a Second Lieutenant and served as a Battery Commander with the Air Defense Artillery at Fort Funston and the Presidio of San Francisco until his release from Active Duty in 1954.
Mal met his late wife, Barbara McCulloch when they were both college students, she was "up the hill" at Lone Mountain, and he was "down the hill" at USF. They were married from 1953, until Barbara's death in 2006.
As a Certified Public Accountant, Mal spent time in smaller firms and ultimately became a partner with Grant Thornton where he stayed until his retirement.
Mal and Barbara were very social and loved to travel, most especially with their dearest lifelong friends "The Bastille Group": with founding members Jim and Sue Meader, Tom and Kathleen McDermott and Marianne and Gene Ray.
Mal was always involved in his local parishes, particularly St. Raymond in Menlo Park where he was a lector, a member of the parish council and worked with the CCD youth group.
He was involved in many Catholic organizations. Mal was a Knight of Magistral Grace in Obedience of the Sovereign Order of Malta. He also served on the Serra High School Parents' Board of Education from 1976 to 1979 and served as the Board Chairman for the 1978-79 school year. Mal has served as a member of the Board of Regents of St. Ignatius College Preparatory; a Trustee at the University of San Francisco and as a Director with the Gellert Foundation.
A great joy in Mal's life was being able to reunite with his father's family in Colombia. Mal enjoyed many trips to visit his brothers and sisters, nieces, and nephews.
Mal was preceded in death by his wife, Barbara; his daughter, Victoria; and his grandsons Joseph Richard Visbal, Jonathan Malcolm Visbal and John Michael Visbal.
He is survived by his son Robert (Debbie); son John (Leslie); daughter Erin; and son in law Jon Frick; and by grandchildren Julianne (Stephen) O'Brien; Kristin Visbal; Jeannine Visbal; Kyle Visbal; DJ Visbal; Mark Visbal; and by his precious great-grandsons, John and James O'Brien.
Services will be at Saint Dominic's in San Francisco on Friday 27 October (Rosary at 9:30 am; Requiem Mass at 10:30 am). In keeping with Mal's devotion to Catholic education, in lieu of flowers please consider a donation in his name to scholarship programs at Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory, Junipero Serra High School, Notre Dame High School Belmont or St. Ignatius College Preparatory.

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Published by San Francisco Chronicle from Oct. 9 to Oct. 10, 2023.

Memories and Condolences
for John Malcolm Visbal

Sponsored by Evergreen Mortuary of McAvoy O'Hara The Evergreen Mortuary.

12 Entries

Curtis N. Miyaji

February 20, 2024

My condolences to the Visbal family. I had the pleasure of working with Mal at Grant Thornton and he was a role model and positive influence on my career and life. I appreciate his leadership and integrity, he touched many people at work and in his faith.

Jon Frick

October 16, 2023

How I admire and respect the life of Malcolm Visbal! I admire Mal for growing up in a loving family. Marie, Walter, and Sharon Meyerkamp will always hold a special place in my heart. I respect him for excelling in school and building a successful career. I admire him for choosing Barbara as his wife and raising four outstanding children. I respect Mal for serving his country and for all the contributions he made to community and faith. And I admire Mal for the way he cared for Barbara during the last years of her life.

But selfishly, I admire Mal the most for having the courage to welcome me into the Visbal family in 1981. I'm sure it didn't come easy. His oldest daughter, Victoria, was my wife for 36 wonderful years. Sadly, I don't remember ever thanking Mal (or Barbara) for raising such an outstanding daughter.

My condolences to Bob, Debbie, John, Leslie, and Erin. May you always be my west-coast family.

Jon

Joseph Cleary

October 15, 2023

My condolences to Visbal Family. I knew Mr. Visbal During my years at USF through my father Alfred Cleary. A very kind man! I love the comment about sand dabs in the previous posts! A true San Franciscan. Joe Cleary

Grace Smith and family

October 12, 2023

My prayers and love goes out to Bob, Debbie and family. Grace

Shinichi Nakano

October 11, 2023

Our deepest sympathy to Visbal family.
I just noticed your father born around the same time my father was born. I lost him 15 years ago. I hope I can share the same feeling with you. Lots of memories and thoughts.

Shinichi

Frank and Dixie Daniel

October 10, 2023

Our sincere condolences to the Visbal family. Mal´s sister, Sharon, was my very best friend and more like the sister I never had. We were always invited to Meyerkamp/Visbal family functions and always felt a part of the family. We will miss him as we do Sharon and the other family members.

Rev. Paul Fitzgerald, S.J.

October 10, 2023

My sincere condolences to the family of Mal Visbal. He was generous with his time, wisdom and expertise, serving most recently on the Audit Committee of the USF Board of Trustees. I pray that he is now fully in the presence of God, his faith fulfilled and his good life rewarded with eternal happiness.

Louise Lucchesi

October 10, 2023

Dear Erin and family, I'm grateful to have known Mal from the SI and USF Communities, that he supported so loyally and generously. My sympathies to all of you. Warmly,

Linda Hillard

October 9, 2023

My deepest condolences to the Visbal family you are in my prayers. My fondest memory took place in a restaurant in SanFrancisco and Pappa introduced me to sand dabs. He was well loved and will be greatly missed.

Linda Hillard

October 9, 2023

My fondest memory of Pappa was at a restaurant in SanFrancisco where he introduced me to sand dabbers. You were well loved and greatly missed. My deepest condolences to the family

Jack Goodwin

October 9, 2023

I have known Mal since 1949. We did everything together at USF, served on the Board there and we were even closer when he was their auditor and I was Chairman pf the Trustees. He actually taught me to drive in the beat up old car he owned. (the steering wheel came off in my hands but that no big deal.) I was a Banker, he an accountant, so we were always around, often with Barbara and my late wife Joan.
To the family, you already know what he meant to you, his friends are with You, he meant a lot to all of us as well.

Fondly,
Jack Goodwin

Fred L. Tocchini

October 9, 2023

Erin and Family - your father was a real gentleman and friend. Enjoyed his company at SI and on Board of Regents. Erin the best to you and my sincere condolences.

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