Fr. Thomas J. Maloney, S.J.
(1936 - 2007)

Former Political Science teacher and Assistant Dean
at Loyola Marymount University

Rev. Thomas J. Maloney

Fr. Thomas James Maloney, 71, died August 11, 2007 at Good Samaritan Hospital, San Jose, the result of a heart attack and stroke. He was a Jesuit for 49 years and a priest for 38 years.
Tom was born in Los Angeles on August 2, 1936. He graduated from Loyola High School in 1954 and majored in political science at Notre Dame University, where he graduated cum laude in 1958. He entered the novitiate at Los Gatos on August 14, 1958.
 

After completing philosophy studies at St. Louis University, Tom taught algebra and civics at St. Ignatius College Prep, San Francisco, 1964-66. Theological studies were taken at Alma College, Los Gatos, 1966-69, and he was ordained to the priesthood at Blessed Sacrament Church, Hollywood, on June 14, 1969.
 

In that year he started graduate work in political science at the University of Texas, where he received his Ph.D. in 1978. His dissertation was on the role of the Catholic Church in the political life of Peru. In 1974 he began teaching at Loyola Marymount University, where, except for time off to work on his dissertation, sabbatical time at JSTB (1984), and a year teaching at Loyola of Chicago's Rome campus (1987-88), he was to remain for the remainder of his academic career. In addition to teaching political science, Tom also served as Assistant Dean of the College of Liberal Arts, 1981-84. and chair of the Political Science department, 1989 - 93. He also was active in campus ministry, especially with the Spanish-speaking students. He took part in the special games for disabled children, held annually on campus.
 

Tom was long plagued by serious diabetes and in July 2000 suffered a major stroke which cut short his academic activities. After a period of rehabilitation he was assigned to Sacred Heart Jesuit Center, Los Gatos where he continued his avid support of Notre Dame football and all things Irish.
 

Tom was a man of strong feelings and opinions. He was a great champion for the underprivileged and had compassion and empathy for the underdog. During his years at Alma, he was thought by many on the faculty to have "gone hippie and pacifist." He was outspoken against the Vietnam War and twice turned in his draft card. In 1971 he was one of the founding members of "Jesuits for Peace and Justice," whose aim was to engage in non-violent active resistance to the war, and as a faculty member at LMU, he was active in social justice causes as well.