October 4, 2007

OBITUARY

HAL MALONEY

Our Lady Queen of Angles Catholic Church was packed Sept. 25 with more than 350 people who came to pay tribute to Harold “Hal” James Maloney. The funeral Mass was concelebrated by the Rev. Colm Conlin and the Rev. Kerry Beaulieu. The Rev. Canon Peter Haynes did a reading. Rev. Conlin married Mr. Maloney and his wife, Andrea, in Irvine.
Friends, family and colleagues from Mr. Maloney’s years of public service and his 30-year career with Orange County Health Care Agency and, most recently, the Santa Ana Police Department, praised him for his hard work, and his kindness.

The Santa Ana Police Department sent an honor guard and a motorcade escort to Pacific View Memorial Park for the interment.

All were stunned by Mr. Maloney’s sudden death Sept. 20. Only 57, with no history of heart disease, he was felled by a blood clot in his heart as he walked to his car after work, on his way to meet his wife and sons at a high school football game. He had worked as a finance consultant for the department’s Homeland Security program for the past two years, since retiring from the county.

Though he and his family had moved to Newport Beach 12 years ago, Mr. Maloney had a long history of community involvement in Irvine. He served as the first chair of the city’s Finance Commission and chaired the city’s Cultural Affairs Commission.

“He was passionate about the arts and was part of the founding of the city’s Cultural Arts Committee, which became the commission,” said former city manager Allison Hart. “He translated his love of the arts into this work for the city.”

A leader in working to open the Lakeview Senior Center, he served as a founding board member there.

“He was very active in everything he was involved with and made so many contributions. He never wanted credit, always just there helping,” recalled former mayor Sally Anne Sheridan. “He was the gentlest, kindest person I’ve ever known, very strong but very gentle.”

Mr. Maloney’s family also recalled his gentle nature and kindness as well as his devotion to his sons, Connor, 14, and Calder, 12.

“Hal didn’t stay long, but he left a legacy and each of us is better for what he showed us in his simple low-key actions, kindness, content, gentleness, caring and love,” wrote his sister-in-law Danielle Sim for the memorial service.

“I never heard him say a bad word about anybody, never heard him raise his voice, never heard an angry word. …And he spent most of his time with the boys. He was so involved with them,” said Richard Sim, his father-inlaw.

Mr. Maloney was born Nov. 29, 1949, in Hawaii and grew up in Kailua on the island of Oahu. He graduated from Kailua High School and earned a degree in political science from the University of Hawaii.

After graduating from the university he came to Southern California and established himself in Irvine. He worked for more than 30 years with the Orange County Health Care Agency in management and finance. He earned a master’s degree in public policy from Cal State Fullerton and always enjoyed learning. He also had an artistic bent, said his father-in-law, and often did projects with his sons. He recently designed an extensive refurbishment of the family home in Newport Beach.

Mr. Maloney met his future wife, Andrea Sim, on a blind date set up by Sheridan. The two recently celebrated their 15th anniversary.

“Hal was just such a great guy. He was the kind or person everyone liked working with. He was supportive of the (City Hall) staff and well respected, intelligent and so caring. He made a real difference in the city,” said Hart. “But one thing everyone knew about Hal was he was such a great family man. His true passion was his family.”

In addition to his wife, Andrea, and sons, Connor and Calder, Mr. Maloney leaves his mother Holly Maloney of Newport Beach, his sister, Maurine Maloney Taliaferro, of Newport Beach, and his brother, Michael Maloney of Fountain Valley.
The family asked that memorial donations be made to the Corona del Mar High School Foundation at 1280 Bison Ave. #B90437, Newport Beach 92660; or to Lincoln Elementary TLC School, 3101 Pacific View Drive, Corona del Mar 92625.

–Peggy Goetz, for Irvine World News