Submitted by: Dan Rich
John R. Malone
Oct. 20, 1920 - Aug. 29, 1999
South Bend Tribune 8/31/1999
John R. Malone, longtime University of Notre Dame professor of Business Administration and father of six, died of a stroke at 1:20 a.m. on Sunday, Aug. 29, in Saint Joseph's Regional Me-dical Center, South Bend, Ind. He was 78.
He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Ellen Johnson Malone, who he married on Oct. 26, 1946, in Holy Rosary Cathedral, Toledo, Ohio. She survives. He is survived by six children, Kathleen Malone Beeler of Granger, Ind., and her children, John, Molly, Katie and Colleen; Mary Ann Malone Morris of Denver, Colo., husband, Evan, and children, Bridget, Ben and Laura; Jane Malone Zilly of Chagrin Falls, Ohio, husband, Jack, and children, Ellen, Sarah, John and Clare; John R. Malone, Jr., of Columbus, Ohio, wife, Noony, and children, Maggie, Mary Kate and John, III; Carol Malone Lattner of Lexington, Ky., husband, John, and children, Colleen, Kevin and Danny; Susan Malone Feeley of Darien, Conn., husband, Bill, and children, Billy, Jack, Sarah, Meghan, Grace and Stuart. He is also survived by his only sibling, James J., and wife, Peggy of Toledo, Ohio. Dr. Malone was preceded in death by his eldest granddaughter, Margaret ''Meghan'' Murphy Beeler, who was killed in the Notre Dame swimming team bus crash in 1992.
Dr. Malone began his formal education at the University of Notre Dame, receiving his Ph.D. in Finance in 1942, graduating cum laude. He received his M.B.A. in 1946 from Harvard University and his Ph.D. in marketing in 1963 from the University of Chicago, Graduate School of Business.
Dr. Malone began his professional career at the Owens Corning Fiberglass Corporation on the Market and Economic Research Staff. He returned to his alma mater in 1952 as Professor of Marketing. He chaired this department from 1954 to 1962 at which time he became Assistant Dean of the college, continuing to 1966. From 1966 through 1977, Dr. Malone served as Associate Dean and Director of the Graduate School. He then returned to teaching Marketing and Business Policy in both the Graduate and Undergraduate schools. Retiring in 1985, he continued his lifelong love of teaching as Professor Emeritus of Marketing until 1995. Throughout these years, Dr. Malone also extended his teaching skills and corporate experience to the business community. He developed many seminars, often in conjunction with his fellow faculty members, for many executives throughout the country.
Dr. Malone was founder of the National Association of Business Economist, Michiana Chapter in 1979. He was charter member, co-founder and board member of the American Marketing Association, Michiana Chapter. He also served on the Library Committee of the University from 1977 through 1981, serving as its chairman for 1980-81. Dr. Malone was also very active in Notre Dame Alumni activities, serving as the Notre Dame Club of Toledo president in 1949, recipient of the club's ''Man of the Year'' award in 1950, and co-chairing many of his class reunions.
Throughout Dr. Malone's career he received many honors and awards. In 1977 he received a Special Presidential Citation for the MBA Program inauguration and development. At the President's Dinner in May of 1984, he received the distinguished ''Faculty Award'' for his 32 years of extraordinary service to the University. Rev. Theodore Hesburgh noted that John is ''always at the call of his colleagues for advice and assistance'' and said that he ''has captured the respect of generations of students.'' Dr. Malone received the Teaching Award for the Class of 1986 Master of Science in Administration program. The Cardinal O'Hara Award, presented by the Alumni Association to distinguished alumnus who has exhibited outstanding service to the university, was bestowed upon Dr. Malone in 1990. The annual John R. Malone Academic Achievement Award was inaugurated in 1998 to recognize the highest GPA students in the MBA and executive MBA programs. It is named to honor Dr. Malone as a gifted teacher and valued mentor to generations of Notre Dame faculty and students.
Dr. Malone secured a gift from the Hayes-Healy Foundation of Chicago which, in 1966, was the largest single donation to Notre Dame. This gift launched the MBA program at the University which now ranks in the top 25 nationally. Furthermore, at John Malone's encouragement, several of his highly talented students pursued graduate work at the University of Chicago. Many of them now serve as leaders in industry today.
The significant legacy that John Malone has left is the devotion to his faith, family and friends, his willingness to give anything he had to those in any kind of need, and his relentless work to make the Marketing Department and Graduate School the very best that they could be. His career and family accomplishments were achieved with a backdrop of his integrity, ethics and morality.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday in the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, Notre Dame. Burial will follow at Cedar Grove Cemetery. Friends may call from 7 to 9 p.m. today in the Basilica. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Meghan Beeler Scholarship Fund at Notre Dame, c/o the University of Notre Dame Development Office, 1100 Grace Hall, Notre Dame, IN 46556. The Hickey Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.