McCandless insurance broker, YMCA board president was ultimate salesman

Several weeks ago, Michael Malone’s wife and daughters were remarking that throughout his battle with a cancer, he never really complained. His father, Robert Malone, chimed in to explain: “We Malones are doers, not talkers.”

Mr. Malone, an insurance broker, longtime YMCA board member and devoted father, died Tuesday of poorly differentiated neuroendocrine carcinoma. He was 65.

“He was the epitome of an old-fashioned gentleman,” said his daughter, Devin Malone, of Downtown. “If he ever had a negative thought about anyone, he never aired it.”

Mr. Malone grew up in the North Hills and played basketball for North Catholic High School. In a classics class his junior year at Allegheny College, he met the future Susan Malone, a senior. The two married that summer and spent their first year of married life living in a dorm room.

Mr. Malone then joined his father in the insurance business at Fidelity Insurance Agency, and he finished his career as a broker at Henderson Brothers. He was passionate about selling insurance, and was able to translate those skills as a board member into the nonprofit world.

“He’s the ultimate salesman, he’s the ultimate people person, and he does not take no for an answer,” said Kevin Bolding, president and CEO of the YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh.

Mr. Malone joined the board of the YMCA in 2003 and served as president from 2013-2015. He was so dedicated that staff members would joke about him being there so much he should be collecting a paycheck. “He really poured himself into the work of the Y,” said Mr. Bolding.

Mr. Malone was heavily involved in an ongoing effort to change the Collegiate YMCA in Oakland into a center of excellence on inclusion and equity. He also created a process for new board members to improve engagement and make sure that new members “felt like they were part of the family,” said Mr. Bolding.

Just weeks ago, Mr. Malone attended a YMCA fundraising event, said his daughter, “bidding on trips he wouldn’t go on and wine he wouldn’t drink.”

He also served on the boards of Gateway to the Arts and Gateway Rehabilitation.

In addition to his work and volunteer commitments, he was devoted to golf, skiing, Bombay Sapphire martinis and his family, including the many years he spent coaching three daughters in basketball.

“We kind of describe him as our superhero and our champion,” said his daughter. “He never missed a school activity, he was always willing to practice in the driveway or go over game tapes. He was always there to talk to me about basketball or really anything.”

In addition to his father and his daughter, Devin, Mr. Malone is survived by his wife, Susan, of McCandless; daughters Megan of Brighton Heights and Jane of Syracuse, N. Y.; a sister, MaryAnne Schreckengast the North Side; and brothers David of Pine; Robert of Cranberry; and Paul of West View.

The funeral is at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Teresa of Avila Church in Ross. The family requests donations to the YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh.