Obituary for Chief George Nicholas "Pa" Malec
Chief George Nicholas “Pa” Malec, an incredibly humble and perennially jovial, kind and gentle man was welcomed into his Heavenly home on May 11, 2021.
Though tough to imagine, given his bearlike frame, George Malec was, at one point, a little child born on the southeast side of Cleveland on December 6, 1934, the fifth of six boys, to Rudolph and Pauline (née Divis) Malec. After graduating high school at Our Lady of Lourdes, a young and spry George took to sucking out all the marrow of life by bowling and dancing on a nightly basis, but slowly grew tired of it all. Thankfully, his best friend had a solution: getting George to go on a blind date with a dreamy gal from St. John’s College School of Nursing, one Kay Brown. The blind date led to a blinding, lasting love, and the two married in 1960.
In 1962, George entered the field of law enforcement, a fitting career for a man who always sought to help others, as a modest auxiliary police officer for the City of Wickliffe, where he stayed through 1965. Ever the diligent worker, George was hired that same year by the Willoughby Hills Police Department, where he once delivered a baby while on duty (thankful for his wife Kay’s wise instruction in delivering babies a few weeks earlier)! He rose through the ranks, eventually fulfilling a wish from his youth to “make a difference in this world.” The stern but gentle giant led the Willoughby Hills Police Department as Chief from 1985 until his well-earned retirement in 2000.
During his tenure, George not only led the department, but also served as the President of the Lake County Chiefs of Police Association; Vice-Chair for the Emergency Operation Center (EOC) for over 20 years; served on the Lake County Narcotics Unit; and was a member of the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), once serving as president. Being a quiet man of faith, George was an integral member of the Immaculate Conception parish community for 50 years, serving as lector, extraordinary minister of communion, and especially taking great pride as Head of the Ushers for over 20 years. Helping out everywhere he went, George’s heart of a servant garnered such statements as: “If you need anything, just ask George.” He was recognized as a “Man of Honor” and even garnered the title of “Man of the Year.”
Yet, in his eyes, George’s greatest career accomplishment was fathering his six children. He was first and foremost a family man who radiated with joy when able to share his pride of who his children and grandchildren had grown up to be. In their eyes, George, “Dad” or “Pa” will be always be remembered as one of the humblest men you’d ever meet; a stoic man whose kind blue eyes always bore his even kinder soul; a father and mentor who exuded unconditional love.
The leader of the band may have passed on, but his legacy will live on through Kay, his wife of almost 61 years; children, Mary von Carlowitz, George (Aven) Malec, Jeanine (Scott) Fontes, Gwen (Juan) Lewis, Nell (Dennis) Ginley, and Megan (Dave) Fennell; 23 grandchildren, Kyle (Allie), Clay (Asta), Connor (Sara), Tucker (Genevieve), Hunter, Graham, Winston, Jackson, and Kerrigan von Carlowitz; George and Mackenzie Malec; Brandon (Ashley), Courtney, Christine, and Sean Fontes; Zachery Malec; Jordan, Shaina, and Colin Lewis; Hannah and Moira Ginley; and Amber and Jacob Fennell; and nine great-grandchildren, Harper, Finnegan, Seamus, Augustus, Ignatius and Evangeline von Carlowitz; and Daniel, Emma, and Michael Fontes. "The hole he left in our hearts is huge, but his legacy will always endure."
Family will receive friends from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday at St. Joseph’s Hall located on the grounds of Immaculate Conception Church, 37940 Euclid Ave., Willoughby. Funeral Mass will be held 10 a.m. Friday at Immaculate Conception Church. Burial will be in Willoughby Memorial Gardens in Willoughby. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, masks and social distancing will be observed.
Arrangements are entrusted to McMahon-Coyne-Vitantonio Funeral Homes in Willoughby and Mentor.
To leave condolences for the family or order flowers, visit www.MCVfuneralhomes.com.
Though tough to imagine, given his bearlike frame, George Malec was, at one point, a little child born on the southeast side of Cleveland on December 6, 1934, the fifth of six boys, to Rudolph and Pauline (née Divis) Malec. After graduating high school at Our Lady of Lourdes, a young and spry George took to sucking out all the marrow of life by bowling and dancing on a nightly basis, but slowly grew tired of it all. Thankfully, his best friend had a solution: getting George to go on a blind date with a dreamy gal from St. John’s College School of Nursing, one Kay Brown. The blind date led to a blinding, lasting love, and the two married in 1960.
In 1962, George entered the field of law enforcement, a fitting career for a man who always sought to help others, as a modest auxiliary police officer for the City of Wickliffe, where he stayed through 1965. Ever the diligent worker, George was hired that same year by the Willoughby Hills Police Department, where he once delivered a baby while on duty (thankful for his wife Kay’s wise instruction in delivering babies a few weeks earlier)! He rose through the ranks, eventually fulfilling a wish from his youth to “make a difference in this world.” The stern but gentle giant led the Willoughby Hills Police Department as Chief from 1985 until his well-earned retirement in 2000.
During his tenure, George not only led the department, but also served as the President of the Lake County Chiefs of Police Association; Vice-Chair for the Emergency Operation Center (EOC) for over 20 years; served on the Lake County Narcotics Unit; and was a member of the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), once serving as president. Being a quiet man of faith, George was an integral member of the Immaculate Conception parish community for 50 years, serving as lector, extraordinary minister of communion, and especially taking great pride as Head of the Ushers for over 20 years. Helping out everywhere he went, George’s heart of a servant garnered such statements as: “If you need anything, just ask George.” He was recognized as a “Man of Honor” and even garnered the title of “Man of the Year.”
Yet, in his eyes, George’s greatest career accomplishment was fathering his six children. He was first and foremost a family man who radiated with joy when able to share his pride of who his children and grandchildren had grown up to be. In their eyes, George, “Dad” or “Pa” will be always be remembered as one of the humblest men you’d ever meet; a stoic man whose kind blue eyes always bore his even kinder soul; a father and mentor who exuded unconditional love.
The leader of the band may have passed on, but his legacy will live on through Kay, his wife of almost 61 years; children, Mary von Carlowitz, George (Aven) Malec, Jeanine (Scott) Fontes, Gwen (Juan) Lewis, Nell (Dennis) Ginley, and Megan (Dave) Fennell; 23 grandchildren, Kyle (Allie), Clay (Asta), Connor (Sara), Tucker (Genevieve), Hunter, Graham, Winston, Jackson, and Kerrigan von Carlowitz; George and Mackenzie Malec; Brandon (Ashley), Courtney, Christine, and Sean Fontes; Zachery Malec; Jordan, Shaina, and Colin Lewis; Hannah and Moira Ginley; and Amber and Jacob Fennell; and nine great-grandchildren, Harper, Finnegan, Seamus, Augustus, Ignatius and Evangeline von Carlowitz; and Daniel, Emma, and Michael Fontes. "The hole he left in our hearts is huge, but his legacy will always endure."
Family will receive friends from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday at St. Joseph’s Hall located on the grounds of Immaculate Conception Church, 37940 Euclid Ave., Willoughby. Funeral Mass will be held 10 a.m. Friday at Immaculate Conception Church. Burial will be in Willoughby Memorial Gardens in Willoughby. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, masks and social distancing will be observed.
Arrangements are entrusted to McMahon-Coyne-Vitantonio Funeral Homes in Willoughby and Mentor.
To leave condolences for the family or order flowers, visit www.MCVfuneralhomes.com.