Thomas E Malone Obituary – 1938

Thomas E. Malone

OBITUARY

Tom drove from Connecticut to California and never looked back.

He was a true beach bum, living in Laguna, Hermosa, Redondo and Palos Verdes. He embraced the California lifestyle by sailing, body surfing, playing beach volleyball, basketball, and golfing. His gifts of Irish blarney made him a compelling storyteller. His exuberance for life was infectious and his hearty laugh contagious.

Tom’s sense of adventure led him into the great unknown. Shortly after his wedding to Mary, they traveled around South America for 3 months. When their children (Shauna, 8 and Molly, 5) were able to tie their own shoes and carry a backpack, the family set out for a 13-month trip around the world following the sun. Tom’s quest for adventure propelled him to climb to base camp of Mt. Kanchenjunga (third highest mountain in the world) on his 50th birthday, run with the bulls in Pamplona, bungie jump in Australia, and eat caterpillars in the Amazon.

After majoring in Insurance at the University of Connecticut, Tom attained his CPCU at UCLA. He opened his own property and casualty insurance agency, Malone & McCully, in Torrance. His assistants claim he was brilliant and garnered the respect of his clients because of his hard work ethic and personalized attention.

Tom’s caring heart led him to serve on the board of the non-profit organization on Skid Row called LAMP (Los Angeles Men’s Place). He and Mary invested in apartments for the homeless through the People Concern of LA. He lent his insurance experience to Palos Verdes City as a member of PVHomeowners Association.

Tom loved God deeply and attended church without fail even when traveling around the world. His optimism and strong faith helped him survive stage 4 melanoma cancer multiple times throughout his life.

A true friend, he mentored many young people in business, life, and affairs of the heart. He offered his personal clothes and shoes to the housing insecure and would give his used cars to needy friends. However, as a strident competitor, he would take the shirt off his friends’ back and demand free Guinness when he beat them at a game of shuffleboard, basketball or darts.

Tom’s passions in life (aside from travel, family and friends) were the Lakers, politics, and reading The LA Times. A wine connoisseur, Tom enjoyed making wines with Las Garagistas and traveling the world to collect rugs and art. He was also an avid live theatre patron.

Tom’s friends penned him as a combination of Zorba the Greek, Don Quixote, and Marco Polo and added, “It took a tsunami to take him out.”

We will celebrate Tom’s life at St. Cross Episcopal Church in Hermosa Beach at 1:00 on Sunday, August 31, 2025.