Michael William Maloney
OBITUARY
Michael W. Maloney, 79, passed away on July 11, 2026, in San Diego, California. Born April 30, 1947, in Chicago, he grew up as the eldest of seven surviving children and carried a deep love for family throughout his life.
Michael spent his childhood in New Mexico and later Los Angeles, where he developed early passions for music and for working with his hands. Introduced to rock and roll at age eleven, he became a lifelong music enthusiast whose playlists ranged from Cab Calloway and Elvis to U2.
At fourteen, Michael began working at a car wash, bringing home his wages to help support his parents. At fifteen, he built his first car from junkyard parts–a father-son project that sparked a lifelong love of automobiles and problem-solving.
After graduating from Canoga Park High School, Michael joined the U.S. Air Force as an aircraft mechanic, eventually reaching the rank of sergeant. He made lasting friendships during his service and continued working in aviation after returning home.
In 1974, Michael met Pamela, the love of his life, and they married later that year in San Francisco. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Electronics, a teaching credential in Industrial Arts, and a master’s degree in Special Education from San Francisco State University–the first in his family to earn a college degree. He taught disabled teenagers before beginning a 30-year career in the emerging biotech industry, where he became known as a kind, capable leader who could fix anything.
Michael and Pamela raised their family in the Bay Area and later in Poway, California, where he helped launch a biotech firm and lived for more than three decades. He volunteered as a Cub Scout and Boy Scout leader, hosted neighborhood Halloween celebrations, and assisted with arts and crafts at the local elementary school. Even after losing his sight to glaucoma, he enjoyed walking his dog by the school to listen to children playing at recess.
He traveled widely across the United States and abroad and cherished time with his grandchildren, who lovingly called him “Pa.”
Michael is survived by his wife of more than 50 years; his children April, Patrick (Julie), and Alana; his grandchildren Layla, Sophie, and Nora; and his siblings Timothy, Molly, Dennis, and Kathleen. He was preceded in death by his parents, William and Margaret, and his siblings Patrick, Danice, and Terrance.