The SIU and its affiliated Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education were saddened when Lawrence Patrick Malone, formerly an instructor at the Southern Maryland school and a highly decorated U.S. Navy officer, died May 26 in California, Md. following a long battle with cancer. He was 65. Malone, who worked at the school from January 1997 until just a few weeks before his death, coordinated many of the Paul Hall Center’s classes in addition to teaching vessel familiarization and other deck department courses. He particularly embraced the challenge of instructing unlicensed apprentices as they first entered the program in Piney Point, Md.
He made a powerful, lasting impression on students, school officials and fellow instructors.
“He was one of the most unique individuals I ever met,” said Paul Hall Center Vice President Don Nolan. “He was an ex-Navy chief and he didn’t take no [stuff] from anybody. When he handled scheduling classes we never had a problem—ever. He was a great guy, and he had no tolerance for complainers.”
J.C. Wiegman, assistant director of training at the school and also a Navy veteran, said he and Malone were friends in addition to colleagues. “Larry and I met each morning at the school and discussed the plan for each day,” he recalled. “Privately, I called him captain and he called me chief. This was a mutual understanding of naval tradition and my respect for him as a mustang commander who earned the distinction of having command at sea (similar to going up the hawsepipe and becoming a ship’s master). We argued, we laughed and we tried to keep our days on an even keel over the last six or seven years.
“When he was diagnosed with cancer over a year ago, he was determined to beat it even though he wasn’t given much of a chance,” Wiegman continued. “He fought the battle through many ups and downs. He never forgot the school and came back frequently, as he would say, to check in on us—and finally even to say goodbye. Fair winds and following seas, captain.”
Director of Training Bill Eglinton remembered Malone as “not shy. He would tell it like it was. Larry’s main crusade was trying to jump-start or motivate those kids with good potential who wouldn’t engage in class. He did a tremendous job.”
Instructor David Martin knew Malone both in the Navy and at Piney Point. “Larry was an amazing man,” he said. “I can remember him when I was 20 years old and he was the gravelly voiced LTJG Bosun on the USS Kiska. We all very much respected Bosun Malone, and I remember how well he took care of his troops—us—even though we had a lot of underway commitments. He was always in my corner.
“Twenty-one years later,” Martin added, “I was taking a lifeboat class at Piney Point as a retired BMCS (senior chief bosun’s mate), and lo and behold, who walked in to administer the test but Larry Malone…. I always loved working for him, and we all will miss him.”
Instructor Jim Shaffer said Malone “was one of a kind, a straight shooter. I think that’s what everybody liked about Larry—he didn’t beat around the bush…. He was proud of his military career, having worked his way up through the ranks, but he wasn’t a braggart.”
Shaffer said that although Malone could be demanding of students, he always treated them fairly and was quick to lend support. “If you had a job to do, he expected you to do it right,” Shaffer noted. “But if anyone needed anything, Larry was there for them. He was respected and admired by everyone here at the school and maybe feared by a couple. He’ll be missed by a lot of people.”
A native of Dickinson, N.D., Malone served in the Navy for 29 years. Among other honors, he was awarded the Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, Navy Unit Commendation, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Navy “E” Ribbon, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Vietnam Service Medal (two Bronze Stars), Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross, Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Medal, and Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with Device.
Malone is survived by many family members including his wife, three children, three stepchildren, five siblings and six grandchildren. A memorial Mass was conducted June 2 at St. George’s (Md.) Catholic Church; inurnment followed at Charles Memorial Gardens.
Memorial contributions may be made to OPIS, St. Mary’s Hospital, P.O. Box 527, Leonardtown, MD 20650; and/or American Cancer Society, St. Mary’s County Unit, P.O. Box 1032, Lexington Park, MD 20653.
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