'Pillar of Mahwah Community' Pops Malone Dies at 79

Hundreds of Mahwah residents are expected to attend funeral services this week for a man who family members and friends have called a “pillar of the Mahwah community.”

Patrick Malone – or “Pops,” as most around town affectionately called him – died Sunday. Pops was two months shy of his 80th birthday.

Though he became known during his life for extensive service to the Mahwah community, Malone had started a life of giving before he moved to the township. He was born in Suffern, N.Y., and joined the US Navy immediately after graduating high school. He served on the USS Baltimore during the Korean War.

Upon returning home, he married Joan in 1956, and worked as a Suffern police officer for two years. As the couple’s family grew, they moved to Mahwah. Many of the organizations active in town today can trace their roots back to Pops.

While working as a line supervisor at the Ford Motor Co. plant in Mahwah, Malone helped start Boy Scout Troop 258. He also served as a Troop Leader for Boy Scout Troop 50, and coached youth sports teams his four kids were on.

He spent 18 years as the Director of Public Works, and during that time implemented many township procedures that are still in place today. Malone also served as township administrator several times.

During his life, Pops’s home away from home was the Mahwah Fire Department. He began his FD career as a firefighter on Feb. 1, 1958, and served in various capacities through the end of his life. Malone served as Fire Inspector and was instrumental in starting Mahwah’s Fire Prevention unit.

Malone served as Department Chief in 1968, and was a 40-year president of the Mahwah Fire Department’s Relief Association. He also joined the township’s ambulance corps in 1991 as a driver, and eventually became an EMT and trustee of the ambulance corps.

In addition to his service within Mahwah, Pops also joined the NJ Army National Guard in 1974 and retired at the rank of Master Sergeant. 

Family members describe Pops as a “lifelong learner” who spent much time taking and teaching various classes throughout his life.

“No matter what [my dad] had going on in his life, his family was his number one priority,” Malone’s daughter, Pam Drozd, said of her father. In his obituary notice, Drozd noted that her father “dedicated his life to community service.” But, that “despite his impressive resume, Pops always said his greatest accomplishment was the legacy he and Joan created in their four children.”

And, he leaves behind a long line of loving family members - his beloved wife of 58 years Joan, sons Patrick and partner Debby of Fairfield Vt., Tim and wife Maryann of Mahwah, and daughter Pam of Mahwah; grandchildren Michael, Erin, Kelly, Tim & Tyler; great-grandchildren Mikiya and Isaiah, sisters Katherine Bender, Sharon Cronk, brother-in-law Tom, sister-in-law Barbara Malone, several nieces and nephews, many friends and sidekicks, Bandit & Piper. Pat was predeceased by his parents, brother Bill, son Kevin, and Son-in-law Mike Drozd.

Visitation will be held Wednesday from 1-9 p.m. at the Vanemburgh-Sneider-Pernice Funeral Home on Darlington Avenue in Ramsey. His funeral will be held Thursday at 10 a.m. at Immaculate Heart of Mary, Island Rd. Mahwah, and interment will follow at Mahwah Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, Malone’s family asks that locals make donations in Memory of Ex-Chief Pat Malone, to the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, Drawer 498, Emmitsburg, MD 21797.