Brother James E. Malone, C.F.X.
June 29, 1936 ~ August 1, 2021
DANVERS—Brother James E. Malone, CFX, 85, died August 1, 2021 in the Kaplan Family Hospice House in Danvers. He was a member of the Congregation of the Brothers of Saint Francis Xavier for sixty-six years.
Born in Somerville on June 29, 1936, he was the son of the late James and Julia (Buckley) Malone. He was raised and educated in Somerville, graduating from Saint Clement High School in 1955. Following graduation, he entered the Xaverian Brothers. On September 8, 1955, he received the holy habit taking the religious name Brother Liam.
Following studies at Xaverian College, Brother James received a bachelor’s degree from Catholic University in 1961 and would return to the CU campus to earn a master’s degree. During his long career in education, Brother James would do post-graduate studies at various institutions, including Assumption College, St. Louis University, Michigan State, Fordham University, Xavier University in New Orleans, and Chicago’s Catholic Theological Union.
Beginning his teaching ministry in 1961, he taught history and religion at Notre Dame High School in Utica, NY, St. John’s High School in Shrewsbury, and Malden Catholic High School. In 1975, he was named assistant principal at Lansing Catholic Central High School in Michigan, where he would also serve as principal. A gifted administrator, Brother James was named Superintendent of Schools for the Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon in 1980 and then for the fledgling Diocese of Metuchen in 1982.
In 1988, Brother James was appointed Coordinator of Xaverian Brothers Sponsored Schools for the American Central Province, and in 1994 was named Staff Development Director at Bishop Kearney High School in Brooklyn, NY. In 1998, he was once again tapped to lead a diocesan school system when he was named Superintendent of Schools for the Diocese of Wilmington, DE. He then served at Saint Elizabeth High School in Wilmington, DE and then as Coordinator of Mission and Ministry at Pope St. John Paul II High School in Slidell, LA before retiring to the Ryken House community and then Sacred Heart Village, both in Louisville, KY. He had been a member of the Xaverian House community in Danvers since 2020.
In addition to his brothers in religion, he leaves two brothers, Eugene Malone of Somerville and Bernard Malone of Salisbury, and numerous nieces and nephews.
His Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday, August 6, 2021 at 11AM in the Saint John’s Preparatory School Chapel, 72 Spring St., Danvers. Burial will follow in Xaverian Brothers Cemetery, Danvers. Relatives and friends are invited. Visitation will be prior to Mass from 10AM to 11AM in the chapel. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Brother James’ name may be made to the Xaverian Brothers Retirement Fund, 4409 Frederick Ave., Baltimore, MD 21229. Arrangements are under the direction of C.R. Lyons & Sons Funeral Directors, 28 Elm St., Danvers. To share a message of sympathy, please visit www.LyonsFuneral.com.
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“Coach” was not just a friend but part of our family. He was always there for us with an encouraging word and supportive advice. He taught us to never give up and to look at life’s twists and turns in a positive way. We will miss his smile and talking with him. His suffering is over as he always wanted to be on the go to help others and was frustrated by his ailing body. Rest In Peace Coach until we meet again❤️
Brother Jim was one of my teachers at St. John’s High School in Shrewsbury. He and several other Xaverian Brothers became life-long friends to me. He had a pivotal role in promoting The Encounter retreat program at St. John’s which changed my life forever. He helped me to develop my adult understanding of Christianity. His Senior religion course was the best. I am so very grateful for his friendship. I wish you an eternity of Peace and Love, Jim. I thank you for living such an extraordinary life!
Rev. Fred M. Enman, S.J.
St. John’s ’70
Brother Jim was my teacher, my mentor, but most importantly, my friend. Quick to laugh, always supportive, always giving. Not too many like him. My sincere condolences both to his family and all those he touched who I am sure miss him already, as I do.
RIP my dear friend,
David Fitzgerald
MC class of 75
Condolences to the Malone family. Brother Jim was my religion teacher at Saint John’s High School in Shrewsbury in my senior year. He was an excellent teacher, and my favorite one. We both left Saint John’s the same time but we got together often for meals while Brother Jim was at Malden Catholic. He would visit our house and my mother loved seeing him. As he went on to East Lansing, Portland and Seattle, and finally to Edison NJ we communicated by mail and I still have a drawer fill of his letters. We connected again in 2001, he had vacationed in Italy and my Italian mother was happy when he said he could drop by and we spent the afternoon together. My mother passed soon afterwards and Brother Jim’s visit was a special memory. We reconnected again before the pandemic while he was in Louisville and then back to Danvers. I spoke to him a few times in the last month and he was, as always in good spirits. A friend for 49 I will miss Brother Jim but it was so special to be his friend.
Brian Swartz
Saint John’s High School
Class of 1972
This dear brother has been mine as well since 1978 when he and I lived in the same dorm at Seattle University, Jim there for a theology MA in the SUMORE program, and I for my BA. Two years later we were roommates in Portland where he was Superintendent of Portland Catholic Schools. As I was a teacher in formation his friendship was one of the most remarkable I have ever had to this day. Everything most meaningful to us both was shared regularly, and often at Friday afternoon happy hours where we found numerous free buffets to enhance our cold beers. When he moved to New Jersey he was a magnet for younger people my age in his apartment complex, hosting dinners he cooked, joining barbecues and giving/receiving life like no other ordained person I have ever met. As deep as his gifts and passions were for education, his passion for hospitality and celebration were every bit as strong. If all of us who befriended Jim in this way could have been notified of his passing there might have been no chapel large enough to host us all, and the story telling would have gone on all afternoon. In late July he called me to say he was feeling awful and might not make it through a procedure they were considering for him. We recalled our various years of friendship and he said to me that I might have been his best friend. This was a giant gift of grace, I told him, because I was quite sure I’d never had a friend who knew and loved me at the level he had so many years before in my early adulthood. Aware it might be our last visit we bid each other a cautionary farewell. In subsequent tries to check in with him, I never got him to answer. It was just today that I thought to seek obituary news in case he had passed. This is and remains a beautiful soul I will never forget. If there is heaven for me, he will be there with a table set, ready to hug and laugh again triumphantly.
Tim Reilly
tim@nwpolevault.com