Francis Patrick Maloney

Francis Patrick Maloney, age 78, died from complications of pulmonary fibrosis and pneumonia on July 22, 2014, at Baptist Health Hospital in Little Rock, Arkansas. He was born on March 4, 1936 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He graduated from St. Vincent College and received his MD degree from the University of Pittsburgh. Pat also received an MPH from the Johns Hopkins University and trained at St. Francis Hospital in Pittsburgh, Johns Hopkins University and the University of Minnesota hospitals. He was a Flight Surgeon in the Air Force for two years and told the story about his first airplane ride in an Air Force Jet. When the pilot found out that Pat had never ridden in a plane, the pilot had fun scaring Pat with many loop de loops and fancy manuvers. Pat became interested in the field of Rehabilitation medicine at the Kenny Institute in Minneapolis and eventually became the Director of Pediatric Rehabilitation at the Institute. In this role he had many responsibilities but particularly enjoyed treating premature infants and children with cerebral palsy. While at Johns Hopkins University he completed a fellowship in the Division of Medical Genetics and participated in research on many types of congenital anomalies. He told the story of gathering research data by interviewing families who lived in rural area in Kentucky. Many of the family homes could only be reached by boat. He said he now understood why some homes are said to be "down in the boondocks". He spent twelve years in Denver, Colorado with the University of Colorado Medical Center and the National Jewish Hospital and Research Center. At the National Jewish Hospital, he treated patients with asthma and other respiratory diseases. Ultimately, he became the Acting Chair of the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehibilitation at the University of Colorado Medical Center. He loved the Rocky Mountains and spent many weekends with his family enjoying Vail. In 1984, Pat was recruited by the late Dr. Harry Ward to start a Physical Medicine and Rehibilitation department at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, College of Medicine. Pat accepted the position and was appointed to be the Chairman and Professor of the Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at UAMS. As part of this position, he was also the Medical Director of the Baptist Health Rehabilitation Institute, and the Chief of Rehabilitation Medicine Service at the John McClellan Memorial Veterans Administration Hospital. He was also a consultant at Timber Ridge Ranch and Arkansas Childrens Hospital. Pat told the story of learning to speak "southern" after he moved to Arkansas. When a technician at the VA asked him if he wanted to see the "FEEAM", Pat finally asked him to "spell it". It was "F I L M". However, Pat never did learn to appreciate turnip greens or cornbread, no matter how much his wife Barbara tried to persuade him! He did learn to appreciate square dancing, contras and English dancing at the Arkansas Country Dance Society. This was where he met his second wife, Barbara. Their first date was at the annual Twelveth Night Ball, then held at the Old State House. Many more wonderful dancing experiences followed through the 24 1/2 years they were married, including traveling to England and St. Croix to attend dancing events. After retiring, they loved spending their summers in Vail, Colorado, playing tennis and enjoying the cool weather. In the mid 90's, a Japanese medical resident who had trained under Pat in the United States invited Pat to speak at an International Conference on Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Pat and Barbara enjoyed a wonderful three weeks touring Japan and were escorted for a portion of that time by their host friends. In addition to writing numerous articles for medical journals, Pat was the editor of several textbooks on Rehabilitation as well as writing chapters for textbooks. Pat was board certified in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Preventive Management, and Medical Management. For 12 years, he served on the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation which is responsible for the testing of physicans who want to become board certified in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Pat and Barbara made many wonderful friends with the board members and their wives on the PM&R Board trips. In 1997, he received the honor of the Distinguished Clinician Award which was presented to him at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Despite his many accomplishments, Pat was modest and reluctant to boast about himself. He had many other talents, including writing poetry and lymericks and creating sculpture at the Arkansas Arts Center classes. He enjoyed reading fiction and non-fiction on all subjects, watching science fiction and sports, and doing crossword puzzles to keep his mind sharp. His favorite hobby, when he was physically able, was playing tennis with his "tennis buddies". He enjoyed meeting them for Saturday tennis lunches when he was in good health. Although he was reserved, once people got to know him, they came to enjoy his dry sense of humor. Pat was preceded in death by his parents, Frank Barrington Maloney and Esther Kuhn Maloney, his brother John Maloney, his sister Veronica Blatt and his first wife of 27 1/2 years Kathryn B. Maloney. He is survived by his beloved wife, Barbara, his sons, Tim, Kevin and Chris Maloney (Stephanie), stepsons, Robert Shertzer (Amanda) and Durandal Roland (Katrina), grandsons, Duncan and Owen Maloney, granddaughter Shannon Maloney, step-grandsons, Benjamin and Jack Shertzer and step-granddaughters, Emma Shertzer and Linda Roland. He is also survived by one nephew and six nieces. A celebration of Pat's life will be held at Trinity Presbyterian Church, 4501 Rahling Road, Little Rock, Arkansas, at 3 p.m. on Sunday, July 27th. A reception at the church will be held following the service. Memorial gifts may be made to the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation, Baptist Health or the Arkansas Arts Center. Arrangements by Roller-Chenal Funeral Home 13801 Chenal Parkway, Little Rock, Ark. (501) 224-8300. Barbara and the family would like to thank Pat's doctors, Dr. Hanan Makhoul, Dr. Alex Lindley, Dr. Stephen Greer, Dr. Jennifer Co, and all the staff at Baptist Health Medical Center in Little Rock for the excellent care Pat received. Their dedication and compassion were appreciated. Online guest book: www.rollerfuneralhomes.com/chenal.