Bernard Mathis Malloy

Malloy
Bernard Mathis Malloy "Barney"
Bernard Mathis Malloy, M.D. passed away at home on August 1, 2025.

Barney was born in Chicago, but was much influenced by his childhood years in Jackson, TN. After graduating from Jackson High School in 1946, Barney joined the Army, serving at Ft. Benning, Georgia for 18 months. Returning to Jackson, he worked at the local A&P while studying pre-med at Lambuth College. In the summer of 1950, before enrolling at Vanderbilt Medical School, he sold Bibles door-to-door in Horry County, SC. In order to earn money to buy a microscope, a requirement of medical school at the time. While at Vanderbilt, Barney developed a fascination with psychiatry that would guide his life and career.

In the fall of 1958, Barney joined the Central Intelligence Agency as a Staff Psychiatrist. He worked there for 31 years, ultimately serving as Chief of the Psychiatric Division and where, among other things, he was tasked with creating psychiatric studies of foreign leaders.

It was because of his expertise that Barney found himself embroiled in the Watergate affair when the Nixon White House directed him to provide a psychiatric study on Daniel Ellsberg, who had previously leaked the Pentagon Papers. As Barney later testified to the Senate Watergate Committee, conspirator Howard Hunt told him that he hoped to use information in the study to ruin Ellsberg's public reputation. Barney advised Hunt and others that the Agency should not be involved in intelligence work on American citizens, and the CIA eventually awarded him the Agency Intelligence Medal of Merit for his ethical behavior.

Barney also maintained a private, part-time practice in downtown Washington until 2010, and he took great satisfaction from helping his many patients. A Board Certified Psychiatrist, he served as President of the Southern Psychiatric Association, was an Assistant Instructor at the Georgetown University Medical School for many years and was on the Staff of Sibley Memorial Hospital from 1960-2010. He was also a member of the Metropolitan Club and the Chevy Chase Club.

The oldest of six, Barney was predeceased by his wife Patty and by his brothers John, James, William and Luther and his sister Susan. He is survived by sons John and Bernard Jr. (Susan Shook), daughter Elizabeth (Dan Sturman), and grandsons Jack and Matt. He also leaves behind a devoted friend and caregiver, Marie Jim Cabagnon.

Barney was cultured, well-traveled, and an avid genealogist with a fascination for early American history. His research led him to join the General Society of Colonial Wars, a group whose members can trace their descent from forebears who served in one of the original 13 colonies prior to the American Revolution. It also led him to the happy discovery of, and a close and active relationship with, his "long lost cousins" in Westport, Ireland. He served as the wise old grey head for over 50 nieces and nephews and their spouses and children, and he will be very much missed by his family.

Funeral arrangements are still pending. Memorial donations may be made to:

St. John's, Lafayette Square
Attn: Preston Cherouny
1525 H St NW
Washington, DC 20005 USA