Robert Martin Maloney, August 17, 1921 - August 28, 2015

Our husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, Papa, has left us for a better place. He was an amazingly kind man. He grew up through the Great Depression, flew fighter jets in WWII and the Korean War, served as a naval pilot for 24 years, and post-service, worked in pre-cast concrete sales. He was a member of the VFW and American Legion, as well as an active member of the Catholic Church and Holy Name Society.

He enjoyed playing and watching all kinds of sports, but he especially liked cheering on the Cubs. He excelled in football and track at Fenwick High School in Chicago, which earned him a track scholarship to Purdue University.

In 1937, he offered a girl a stick of gum at Wrigley Field. She replied, "yes!" As he fondly said over the years, "We've been stuck together ever since." Married over 70 years, he was a wonderful husband and shared countless memories with family. He had remarkable patience in a family filled with strong-willed personalities. In his own soft-spoken manner, he was the glue that held a crazy family together.

He taught us how to golf at Fort Jackson in South Carolina and make cannon balls into the "gigantic" pool on Lake Drive, to name just a few happy times. We enjoyed Easter vacations on Florida beaches, where he showed us how to make sand castles, jump over the waves, and better yet, ride the waves on big inflatable rafts.

We have all been so fortunate to have had this great man in our lives for so long. We love you Papa, today and always.

Robert is survived by his wife, Cecilia, and two daughters, Barbara (Terry) Beuthling, and Susan Maloney. He was blessed with eight grandchildren: Mike, Dan, Megan, Rob, Shannon, Beth, Kevin and Kelly and nine great-grandchildren: Hailey, Will, Elsa, Avery, Luke, Hugo, Drew, Abby, and Bo. He was preceded in death by his two brothers, Jim Maloney and Ned Maloney.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11a.m. on Thursday, September 3, 2015 at ST. THOMAS AQUINAS CATHOLIC CHURCH, 602 Everglade Drive, with Father Bart Timmerman presiding and Msgr. Gerald Healey con-celebrating. Military honors will follow Mass. Robert will be inurned at Arlington National Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in memory of Robert. To view and sign this guestbook, please visit: www.ryanfuneralservice.com

Robert Maloney

August 17, 1921 - August 28, 2015

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