James R. "Jim" Malone

In Memoriam, James R. "Jim" Malone, 1942-2021, Founding Partner and Chairman Emeritus, Qorval Partners, LLC.

In life and in business, there are a few select individuals where it is not only what they do, but who they are that makes a difference. There will ever only be one Jim Malone. We feel as if we have lost three people: a business partner, a friend, a fatherly mentor.

It is with great sadness and loss that we share that the founding partner of QORVAL, James R. "Jim" Malone, passed away April 21, 2021, after a valiant battle with cancer. A fight which, in true Jim fashion, he fought with fervor and passion, defied all the odds and beat everyone's expectations.

Jim was the son of William R. and Marian (Bentley) Malone. Born in Cleveland, Ohio, and raised in Kokomo, Indiana, he chose Naples, Florida, as his residence. Considered one of the greats of turning businesses around, transforming organizations, and doing it with humility, caring, compassion, fierce work ethic, and his famous core values (integrity, profit, growth and fun), Jim's lifetime accomplishments are too numerous to summarize here - but Jim was best known for serving as CEO of six Fortune 500 companies in six industries.

Jim founded Qorval 25 years ago to help grow and transform business, and spearhead hundreds of global and domestic turnarounds, reorganizations, mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures, and strategic alliances.

Jim saved thousands of jobs and helped countless people. He was firm, but fair, and always the hardest working person at the table.

During his career, in addition to being called upon by U.S. Presidents, world leaders, board chairmen, Congress, Governors and Civic and Community leaders for his sage counsel, Jim was also a member of the Board of Directors of NYSE-listed Ametek, Inc. (AME) and Regions Financial Corporation (RF).

Jim was named by Governor Jeb Bush to serve as Chairman of the Board of Governors for the nations' third largest underwriter of property insurance, Citizens Property Insurance Corporation of Florida, spearheading its reorganization and stabilizing the insurance industry.

Jim was also the Chairman and co-founder of Florida based private equity firm, Boyne Capital. Jim was a trustee and board member of the United Nations Business Council for 22 years, a member of The Florida Council of 100, and served many civic and community organizations throughout his career. In 2001, he was one of the founders of the Naples Winter Wine Festival which has raised in excess of $220 million for children's charities in Collier County.

In 2011, Jim was inducted into the Howard County (Indiana) Hall of Legends.

Jim received his BS degree from Indiana University and was a graduate of Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management Institute in International Management.

Surviving Jim is a beautiful family - daughters, Deanna "Dede" Siegfried (Rick) and Lisa Malone Beebe (Paul) with Emily Malone; sons, Gabriel Malone (Tracey) and Zach Malone (Carol Crofton) with Linda Richards Malone; wife, Linda Moulder VanHorn Pletcher Malone with her sons, Mike VanHorn (Karen) and Chris VanHorn (Shiela). Grandchildren: Meyer and Catherine "Cece" Siegfried; Sarah, Chris, Brooke and Paul James Beebe; Mira and Grayson Malone. He is also survived by his sister, Kathy Campbell (Dave); his oldest nephew, David Campbell (Angie) and their children, Ethan, Zachary, and Jillian; and youngest nephew, Jim Campbell.

As a busy man, Jim also had many hobbies which he tackled with passion. He loved golf, model trains, stamps, photography, cars, boats, airplanes, wine, dinner with friends, a good cigar, and international travel.

Jim's favorite quote, which he shared with many of us, is an excerpt from the poem "Ithaka" by Greek poet Constantin Cavafy, inspired by Homer's Odyssey, a tale of the legendary journey of Ulysses (Odysseus) which reads:

"As you set out for Ithika, hope the voyage is a long one... full of adventures, full of discovery, full of good friends."

Indeed, Jim. Godspeed. You will be missed.

A memorial service will be held at a later date. For information, please contact the family at [email protected].

In lieu of flowers, please make donations in his honor to: Naples Children and Education Foundation, 2590 Goodlette-Frank Road North, Naples, Florida 34103. [email protected]; 239-514-2239 or Neighborhood Health Clinic, 88 12th Street North, Suite 100, Naples, FL 34102; [email protected]; 239-261-6600. Online condolences may be offered by visiting

www.ShikanyFuneralHome.com

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Tulsa World on Apr. 27, 2021.

Memories and Condolences
for James Malone

Sponsored by Shikany's Bonita Funeral Home.

9 Entries

Walt

April 18, 2023

One of the good guys!

Fran Mainella

April 20, 2022

I still miss him so much and speak about him in relations to the parks he helped during his time on the board for the Alliance of Florida's national parks. He made a difference wherever he went.

Ricardo Ferra

May 1, 2021

I'm very sad to hear this news. I did a small job repair for Jim and Linda one time at their house. It was very surprising for me the way I was treated like I was part of the family and they both made me feel welcome at their house. I will never forget him. very humbled, down-to-earth gentleman.

Jimmy G

April 30, 2021

Jim, will always be in my heart, a mentor, a friend and someone who gave me a opportunity. The things he taught me, in business and in life, made me better person, and who I am. You’ll be missed but never forgotten. Jimmy G.

Patricia and Larry Knight

April 29, 2021

Jim was a kind, down to earth man. He gave his all to whoever he encountered. He never stood above others and his spirit will be greatly missed. Our love to his family,

David Campbell

April 27, 2021

Jim will be greatly missed, as a friend, mentor and family member, The world just lost an outstanding person.

Fran Mainella

April 26, 2021

Jim made such a difference for the South Florida National Parks and will always be remember each time we do Wine and Wildlife as he helped so much with that. We will miss you JIm.

Paul Fioravanti

April 25, 2021

I met Jim Malone in the Autumn of his career, and the summer of mine, and regardless of the seasons we were in, we became fast friends and ultimately business partners. In the turnaround and transformation parts of our work, our job, simply stated, is to clean up messes and help people going through challenging times and circumstances. In working with early stage companies, Jim rapidly grasped the business model and was well read on new technologies and methods, but could help an entrepreneur zero in to the things that made the difference between failure and success with sage advice, clarity and the perspective that only extensive experience can bring. For Jim this role didn't end at the office or in the board room, his work to help others with a burning sense of altruism marked everything he did. I was fortunate to work with him, learn from him and see him in action. Many things about him astounded me, but the most was the extent to which he could connect with virtually everyone. When he was Chairman and CEO of Nautic Global Group, I saw him firsthand humbly address a group of employees in a "town meeting" where he gave them a candid assessment of the current scenario, asking for their help in transforming the company, telling them that they'd forgotten more about making boats than he'd ever know, and how important they were. He told them his job was to learn from them and they'd figure out together how to make the difficult decisions to transform the business and make it more profitable. And if they all worked together, most of them would be there, and if they couldn't get it on track, none of us will be here. He was deeply respected because he treated everyone with respect, at all stations in life. I saw him treat global CEO's and world leaders the same as he would a service employee opening a door or serving a meal. Jim never forgot where he came from, and never stopped learning, connecting, improving, to make sure he'd be prepared when he got to where he was going. I think of the two lines of the Rudyard Kipling poem IF, which reads: "If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue, Or walk with Kings—nor lose the common touch..." I joked about him sharing his name with Sean Connery's character, the fiery Irish policeman in The Untouchables, and said Jim would have been a great police officer - because he cared about people, was fearless, and had incredible deductive reasoning. In business he'd work fiercely and tirelessness to find the clues to successfully solve the puzzles that organizational transformations and turnarounds can be. He was a quick study, was firm and fair, and direct. When Jim spoke it was like the old famous EF Hutton commercials, the room would get quiet and people would be drawn to his midwestern sensibility, down home prudence and reality, and collaborative nature that would bring out the absolute best in people. He was a big force in my life and I consider the time spent with him an invaluable gift, for which I'm eternally grateful. He loved his family, his friends, and his work. He's gone too soon but never forgotten. And as his tribute states, it wasn't what he did, it's who he was. Jim told me he took the name "QORVAL" based on core values - which for him were integrity, profit, growth and fun. Beyond business mission and vision language, Jim embodied countless admirable core values and passionately drove transformation and bringing out the best in people in every corner of his existence. There may be several people who shared his name, but there's only one Jim Malone. Paul Fioravanti, CEO & Senior Managing Partner, QORVAL Partners LLC.

Walt Wessendorf

April 25, 2021

A true pleasure to know someone like Jim Malone and an honor to call him a friend. Walt and Joella

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