Obituary

Thomas “Tom” Arthur Maliszewski “Mal,” 72, of Charleston, WV, passed away peacefully on April 6, 2024.

Tom was born on August 17, 1951, in Chicago, IL, and was the oldest of four brothers growing up in Chicago and then Western Springs, IL, a Chicago suburb. He attended Lyons Township High School and was a National Merit Scholar.

Tom attended Purdue University, majoring in chemical engineering. While there, he met his wife of 50 years, Rosalind “Rose” Long, a fellow engineering student. He got his Professional Engineer License in 1978. A lifelong Purdue fan, Tom was named Outstanding Alum 2003 for working with the University to help with intern recruitment and development.

After graduation in 1973, Rose and Tom married and moved to Charleston, WV, to work at Union Carbide. Tom’s intelligence, wit, and creativity were recognized throughout his career as a co-author on patents, a Production Department Head at the South Charleston Silicones Plant, a Process Group Leader in the Ethylene Oxide Derivatives business, and finally as a Corporate Fellow in 1998 before retiring in 2002. All those who worked for and with Tom appreciated the way he brought joy to the workplace with creative ideas like the “Group Treasure Chest,” as well as the hilarious memos, newsletters and even reprimands with dubious relevance to official company business . . . and how the company would “Manage.”

After retirement, he was one of the first members of MATRIC, a startup company of retired Union Carbide employees. He designed and developed a biodiesel plant and holds several patents including one for a biodegradable chemical ingredient found in diapers.

Tom enjoyed hiking, traveling, his model trains, visiting / photographing classic trains, Bozo Ball, skiing with Kamikaze Tours, and playing volleyball on Team Tuna. Friends fondly remember Tom playing volleyball in horrendously ugly shorts, wishing a “Good Evening” to the Dunbar Toll Bridge attendant, wearing his softball cleats on the wrong feet, his impersonation of Julia Child making garlic Wharf-rat shaped meatloaf, smuggling Purdue co-ops across state lines, exceeding the speed limits on both a garden wagon AND on large ice cubes, his attempt to orphan his unborn children by “singing in the rain,” as well as the mountain of “valuable mementos” he collected in his office without a proper landfill permit. Finally, no one can forget his attempt to lower the general property values of Brittany Woods with his extravagant holiday displays of external lighting that included flamingos and modified Christmas angels.

A lifetime baseball fan, he grew up cheering for the Chicago Cubs. Tom cheered on the Charleston Charlies, Wheelers, Alley Cats, WVa Power, and Dirty Birds while in Charleston. He was one of the founding members of The Rowdy Alleys which has cheered on the Alley Cats, WVa Power, and the Dirty Birds. He could be seen at most games, keeping score, eating hotdogs, and blowing his bugle. When the baseball team played at the old Watt Powell Park which had train tracks just beyond right field, he would keep track of the train direction, who was batting at the time and try to make a correlation to which team would win.

Tom and Rose attended Christ Church United Methodist where Tom led several Disciples Bible Studies, attended youth and adult Mission Trips, and was one of the original board members for Christmas in April (now called Rebuilding Together). He was House Captain for several years and helped build the original Celebration Station on the East End of Charleston.

The end of his life was marred by primary progressive aphasia, a dementia-like disease Tom was diagnosed with in 2011. After diagnosis, he participated in studies at the Mayo Clinic and Northwestern University. He has even donated his brain to Northwestern University to contribute to the efforts to find a cure for others.

An exceptional thanks to Braley Care Homes in Hurricane, WV, for the many years of tremendous care you have given Tom. And to Rose who has epitomized “for better or for worse” throughout his life and after his diagnosis; going with and then taking him to Mayo and Northwestern, adjusting their lives, and then visiting and helping care for him as the disease progressed.

He spent his last days with his daughters and wife listening to his favorite music, hearing his hilarious missives from the past, and watching The Blues Brothers, a favorite film.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Len and Anne Maliszewski, and his brother, Bob. He is survived by his wife, Rose Long; his daughters, Laura (Kent) Baker of Chapin, SC, and Cheryl (Jeff) Baxter of Knoxville, TN; Grandchildren Walker, Bree, Max, and Ava; brothers, Dave and Jim, and many nieces and nephews whom he loved dearly.

A memorial service, with livestreaming,  will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, April 13, 2024, in the sanctuary of Christ Church United Methodist, 1221 Quarrier Street, Charleston, WV, with Jay Parkins officiating. To view the service, visit www.ccumwv.org . 

Visitation will begin one hour prior at the church.

A celebration of life service will be held on what would have been Tom’s 73rd birthday, Saturday, August 17, 2024, at GoMart Ballpark (formerly known as Power Park).

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to support PPA Research, c/o Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, 420 E. Superior Street, 9th Floor, Chicago, IL 60611 or feinberg.northwestern.edu/giving .

Remembrances, condolences, photos, and/or complaints can be sent to the family rememberingtommal@gmail.com or www.barlowbonsall.com.

Barlow Bonsall Funeral Home, Charleston, WV, is in charge of arrangements.