George Maloney

1922 - 2019

Dr. George E. Maloney

WORCESTER - George E. Maloney, 97, of Worcester, MA passed away on September 15, 2019 after a short illness. He was born to the late George E. Maloney and the late Amanda (Jubinville) Maloney in Worcester, on March 23, 1922.

George, "Ed" to his parents and siblings, grew up on Orient Street, was educated in the Worcester Public Schools and graduated from North High School in Worcester in 1940. He earned a bachelor's degree in English and Education, and a master's degree in Education, from Worcester State College. He also earned a doctorate degree in Education from Calvin Coolidge College, in Boston.

George began his career as a high school teacher in Charlton, MA in 1944. Five years later, he obtained a position in the Worcester Public Schools where he worked for 43 years. He was a teacher and an assistant principal at various schools including Gates Lane, Adams Square, Harlow Street, Thomas Street, and Adams Street. In 1955, he obtained his first principal position at Thomas Street School where he remained until that school closed. He then went on to serve as the principal of Union Hill School for the next ten years and coached the basketball team there as well. Following that role, George became the Project Director for Title III at the central office. Recognizing the importance of the ability to read, the core of this work was to support the teaching and learning of reading for elementary school pupils, and to provide eyeglasses to students if needed. When that grant funded project ended, George chose to return to the principalship at Burncoat Elementary and then at Dartmouth Street School where he served as the principal from 1970 to 1992, then retired at the age of 70. George spent 35 of his 43-year commitment to the city of Worcester as a principal. He loved his work and throughout his 48 year-long career consistently strove to improve the lives of young people, to support families, and to inspire a love of learning.

Early in his career, he was serving as assistant principal at Harlow Street elementary school, when they hired a new kindergarten teacher, the lovely Marie Courtney. Because she was the most beautiful teacher in the school, and the brightest, he asked her to marry him right away. They were married, had a honeymoon on Cape Cod, and together they raised six children.

As educators, George and Marie Maloney emphasized the importance and value of getting an education to their students and to their own children. They were always very proud to say that each of their six children had graduated from four-year universities, and they sacrificed much to be sure that occurred. Although each of their six children pursued other degrees and other careers, they are all currently involved in the education of others in different ways including:

James T. Maloney, Software Engineer/High School Mathematics Teacher, Dr. George E. Maloney, Dentist and Professor at Tufts Dental School, Jane McGinley, Nurse and Geriatrics Educator, Dr. Mark D. Maloney, Biology Professor at Spelman College, Sally A. Maloney, Principal, Doherty Memorial High School, William T. Maloney, MIT.

George's father, from whom he received his name, passed away at age 51. At that time, George was only 23 years old but became the primary caretaker for his mother and his six younger siblings, who were still living at home. The youngest, Paul, was only seven at the time. George was a family man all of his life, striving to be sure that anyone in his care had what they needed for life, which to him above all was love, laughter and the desire to learn. He emphasized the importance of humility and integrity and to never forget from where you came. He lived in Worcester for 93 years before escaping the winters to Florida. It is no surprise that George chose to spend his last 22 years of employment at Dartmouth Street School just down the street from the home in which he and his siblings grew up, allowing him to visit his mother at Orient Street, every day during those years, until she passed away in 1984.

In addition to his work as an educator, George spent 12 years involved in various roles with the Boy Scouts of America, served as the treasurer for the Worcester State College Alumni Association, worked as a faculty member at the Wendell Phillips Parker Nature Training School, and served as a Recreation Leader in the Parks department for the City of Worcester. He was a member of the Forbush Bird Club, the Massachusetts Audubon Society, the Massachusetts Teacher's Association and served on the Board of Health for the City of Worcester.

George enjoyed a number of outdoor activities. He liked canoeing, caring for his rose bushes, birding, and the beach. He and his wife Marie spent many weekends at the Cape and many Sundays watching the New England Patriots. George and Marie also spent many hours, in the mornings, drinking coffee and reading. His most favorite activities included spending time with family members including his brothers and sisters, and his children and grandchildren. Regardless of who was hosting or where the get-together was being held, he was always prepared with a story or a speech and a punchline to go along with it. This often left those on the receiving end trying to figure out how he could manage to do this, time after time, and generation after generation.

George was pre-deceased by his wife, Marie, to whom he was married for sixty-three years. George was also pre-deceased by his brothers, Francis, William, John, Robert, Gerald, and his two sisters, Helen Wickson and Elizabeth O'Brien.

George leaves his son James and wife Kathy Wilde of Hollis, NH and their children Kara Courtney (KC) and Dillon, along with KC's husband Jesse Edwards, his son George of Boston, MA, his daughter Jane McGinley and Paul Ambrosino, Jane's daughter Katherine McGinley and her husband Matthew Eiselman, of Jupiter FL, his son Mark and his children Nathaniel and Mary Rose of Atlanta, GA, his daughter Sally of Worcester, MA, his son William and wife Jeanne and their children John and Elaine of Winchendon, MA, and his brother, Paul Maloney of Auburn, MA, as well as many cousins, nieces and nephews.

The family will always be grateful that Jane McGinley and Paul Ambrosino were able to care for George at their home in Jupiter, fulfilling his dream of long visits to the beautiful Florida beaches. The family would also like to express our appreciation to all of George's caregivers, especially Cinthia Desire who was so dedicated to George and provided a very high level of care during the past year.

The funeral will be held on Saturday, September 21, 2019 from Athy Memorial Home, 111 Lancaster Street, Worcester, with a Mass at 10 a.m. at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, 555 Pleasant Street, Worcester. Burial will follow in St. John's Cemetery. Visiting hours are Friday, September 20 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: The George and Marie Maloney Scholarship Fund, C/O Worcester Public Schools, 20 Irving Street, Worcester, MA 01609