Polly Livingston stepped up to a podium that almost dwarfed her in the Smith Memorial Student Union Ballroom and spoke before a somber audience on her memories of Michael Malinowski. Malinowski was a disabilities advocate, a former coordinator of the PSU Disability Advocacy Cultural Association (DACA), founder of the Student Advocacy and Mentoring (SAM) program, as well as, according to Livingston, a student, husband and cook.
Gone but not forgotten: PSU honors a friend
Polly Livingston stepped up to a podium that almost dwarfed her in the Smith Memorial Student Union Ballroom and spoke before a somber audience on her memories of Michael Malinowski.
Malinowski was a disabilities advocate, a former coordinator of the PSU Disability Advocacy Cultural Association (DACA), founder of the Student Advocacy and Mentoring (SAM) program, as well as, according to Livingston, a student, husband and cook.
The SMSU Ballroom was the site of Malinowski’s memorial and a celebration of his life this last Sunday afternoon. Malinowski passed away June 17, at the age of 42 from a heart attack, in the middle of giving a presentation on Web site accessibility.
A caring and dedicated group of people listened as family members and friends reflected on Malinowski’s life. Jason Duika sang Celiene Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On.”
D. J. Chung, longtime friend and neighbor, offered his own thoughts on Malinowski’s life. “Michael [had] a good sense of humor; a crude sense of humor.”
Darcy Kramer read “Honor the Dreamers” by D. F. Sanders and reflected on her personal experiences with Malinowski.
“No one could accuse Michael of being ineffective in his activism,” she said.
Malinowski worked on projects campus-wide relating to accessibility, including concepts for a solar-powered wheelchair recharging station and what could become a Disabilities Studies minor.
“Michael loved walking the Park Blocks,” memorial attendee David Chittenden said. “Whenever he wanted to have a ‘private’ discussion, we would walk the Park Blocks.”
Chittenden noted that, “[Malinowski] didn’t bother looking for doors. [He] would see a wall and start running at his horns, even if there was a door five feet away.”
Other friends and colleagues of Malinowski shared their experiences, some commenting on effects he had on the community, others on the effects Malinowski had on them personally.
The memorial service concluded with Livingston playing Monty Python’s song “I Like Chinese,” which she said was Malinowski’s favorite song.
“I’ve heard Michael called a tornado. Darcia called him a force of nature. I’ve always thought of him as a whirling dervish,” Livingston said. “Whirling, dancing and howling. He will be missed but never forgotten.”
