Guestbook
Ed and I work at Penncrest from 1997-99. I was assistant principal and Ed work with the distinct to get the construction project completed. Both of us interacted with Mr. Mal. The physics labs were being re-built. Ed took the drawings in to Bob and they consulted. The gas jets were in the wrong place. Other things were a mess. Finally, Ed asked Bob what he NEEDED (this is not always done in a school remodel). Bob explained he needed lots of big tables where the kids could do whatever it is physics students do in class. The gas was rerouted. Ed, who had been a teacher for years, was deeply impressed by Bob Malkovsky's knowledge, his generous spirit, his indomitable will. Bob did not have much use for administrative disciplinarians. His kids never got sent to the office. They loved him! He worked well with Dr. Haviland, the principal, ans others. But his true focus, his real love, was his subject and overall his students. In his memory we are sending you a check. Thanks for doing this.
-Ed and Susan Tiernan
Thank you for starting this fund which enables us to honor Mal. My daughter's experiences as one of his students echos so many of the posted comments. In addition, I will always remember him as an alumni of Franklin & Marshall College, and his eagerness to write a letter of recommendation for her to his alma mater. The four years she spent there were wonderful. I'll always remember his part in helping her have that experience.
-Anonymous
I attended a liberal arts college and as a non-science major had a minimum requirement of 2 lab sciences. Everyone was shocked that I chose physics as one of my classes. Why not 'baby bio' ? Why not 'rocks for jocks'? I always responded it was because I had an awesome physics teacher in high school. I would remember Mal strolling into the Radnor library watching his students huddled around tables as we worked together to solve problems to the infamous take home tests and him chuckling in his deep laugh as we frantically worked. As we were contemplating velocity, force, mass, and I don't even remember what else we were wondering 'Was our answer right? Was our answer wrong ? Or is he just laughing trying to make us think more? I think the latter. I echo what one other poster said that he taught us how to think. He believed the process is as important as the answer. I agree. Years later, some of us often drove to Penncrest to visit him. We updated him on our lives, he updated us on his. Mostly he just listened. He was a great listener, friend and mentor that will be missed by many.
Thank you, Mal, for touching so many lives and changing us all for the better.
-Lara Lewis (RHS Class of 1989)
Mal's support and good humour was as reliable as the sunrise. In his short time at Radnor High he had a profound positive impact on more kids than I can count, in the classroom and out of it. Thanks, Mal, for sharing your life with all of us!
- John Johnson
I had the privilege of being in his first physics class at Penncrest. He was so passionate about his subject, and his students. I was saddened to hear about his cancer when we returned to Penncrest last year for our 20th high school reunion, and deeply saddened to hear that he lost his battle this month. We will all remember his caring ways. I'm glad to hear that future science students will be able to honor him. Thanks for setting up this scholarship fund.
- Laura Pye Axler (Class of 1991)
Physics and SPAM are two things that typically don't make me smile. But, Mr. Mal had a way of bringing a smile to my face with both of those things. His passion was infectious, and his heart was huge. He taught me so much, including how to work hard, while still having a blast! He was truly one-of-a-kind.
-A Z-F
At first I only knew him as the guy who lightened my mood, in the mornings, with his wave and generous smile. Then our daughter, who was in 9th grade at the time, told me the man is Mal, and he is supposed to be a really good Physics teacher. After she was introduced to him in Physics Olympics, the Mal stories slowly crept in. Our son was fortunate to have had him as his AP teacher this year. He would come home, in awe, telling me about Mal's life stories, his adventures, and of course, his previous students. Then there were other Mal stories that just had us laughing! Our son part of a group of students that spent the weekend with Mal and Cicc at Mal's cabin. One thing I clearly remember happened when we picked him up at the end of the cabin trip. As soon as he got into the car, he claimed "Mal is the nicest person I ever met" Simple words, but I think they speak volumes.
- Joanne Trolio
Thank you to Mal for inspiring so many of us. There seems to be a need, a burning desire in all of us who knew him to continue his legacy, even if only in scholarship form right now. Mal will make this world a better place for generations, and we can only hope that this scholarship does its part to promote and pass on his wise ways. Thank you to all who donate to this scholarship, for as anyone who collaborated on Physics 2 tests remembers, Mal certainly taught us that while we can surely do it on our own, we create magic when we get through it together, as a team. Shine on, Mal.
- K. B.
Even before I had Mal as a teacher, he would always say Hi to me when I walked in the front door every day. When I had Cicc for physics, Mal would sometimes just pop his head in and say something like "Remember, 1-D kinematics is what separates the men from the boys." When I had him for AP Physics, he was one of my favorite teachers ever. When he told us that he had cancer, the entire room went silent. When he started going in for treatments, he would call us and leave us little words of encouragement. It left a tear in the eye of even the most hardened student. I had the chance to see him at the Fall Physics Olympics meet in 2012, and he was smiling and cheerful. When I heard about his passing, it felt as though my entire body had gone numb, and I felt light-headed and dizzy. I went into the bathroom, and just broke down. Mal will be forever in my heart as not just a wonderful teacher, but as a life mentor and friend who truly cared about his students.
- Tom Rosenberger
What an honor it was having you as a teacher, a mentor, and a friend. Not only did you teach me Physics and how the World worked but you taught me how to "think." Your memory will always be fresh in our hearts and minds.
- Jonathan Miniman
I took Physics I and II with Mal and ate lunch every day in his classroom for two years. He was a great teacher and a great person. Thanks so much for setting up this fund. I am mailing my check right now.
- Anonymous
-Ed and Susan Tiernan
Thank you for starting this fund which enables us to honor Mal. My daughter's experiences as one of his students echos so many of the posted comments. In addition, I will always remember him as an alumni of Franklin & Marshall College, and his eagerness to write a letter of recommendation for her to his alma mater. The four years she spent there were wonderful. I'll always remember his part in helping her have that experience.
-Anonymous
I attended a liberal arts college and as a non-science major had a minimum requirement of 2 lab sciences. Everyone was shocked that I chose physics as one of my classes. Why not 'baby bio' ? Why not 'rocks for jocks'? I always responded it was because I had an awesome physics teacher in high school. I would remember Mal strolling into the Radnor library watching his students huddled around tables as we worked together to solve problems to the infamous take home tests and him chuckling in his deep laugh as we frantically worked. As we were contemplating velocity, force, mass, and I don't even remember what else we were wondering 'Was our answer right? Was our answer wrong ? Or is he just laughing trying to make us think more? I think the latter. I echo what one other poster said that he taught us how to think. He believed the process is as important as the answer. I agree. Years later, some of us often drove to Penncrest to visit him. We updated him on our lives, he updated us on his. Mostly he just listened. He was a great listener, friend and mentor that will be missed by many.
Thank you, Mal, for touching so many lives and changing us all for the better.
-Lara Lewis (RHS Class of 1989)
Mal's support and good humour was as reliable as the sunrise. In his short time at Radnor High he had a profound positive impact on more kids than I can count, in the classroom and out of it. Thanks, Mal, for sharing your life with all of us!
- John Johnson
I had the privilege of being in his first physics class at Penncrest. He was so passionate about his subject, and his students. I was saddened to hear about his cancer when we returned to Penncrest last year for our 20th high school reunion, and deeply saddened to hear that he lost his battle this month. We will all remember his caring ways. I'm glad to hear that future science students will be able to honor him. Thanks for setting up this scholarship fund.
- Laura Pye Axler (Class of 1991)
Physics and SPAM are two things that typically don't make me smile. But, Mr. Mal had a way of bringing a smile to my face with both of those things. His passion was infectious, and his heart was huge. He taught me so much, including how to work hard, while still having a blast! He was truly one-of-a-kind.
-A Z-F
At first I only knew him as the guy who lightened my mood, in the mornings, with his wave and generous smile. Then our daughter, who was in 9th grade at the time, told me the man is Mal, and he is supposed to be a really good Physics teacher. After she was introduced to him in Physics Olympics, the Mal stories slowly crept in. Our son was fortunate to have had him as his AP teacher this year. He would come home, in awe, telling me about Mal's life stories, his adventures, and of course, his previous students. Then there were other Mal stories that just had us laughing! Our son part of a group of students that spent the weekend with Mal and Cicc at Mal's cabin. One thing I clearly remember happened when we picked him up at the end of the cabin trip. As soon as he got into the car, he claimed "Mal is the nicest person I ever met" Simple words, but I think they speak volumes.
- Joanne Trolio
Thank you to Mal for inspiring so many of us. There seems to be a need, a burning desire in all of us who knew him to continue his legacy, even if only in scholarship form right now. Mal will make this world a better place for generations, and we can only hope that this scholarship does its part to promote and pass on his wise ways. Thank you to all who donate to this scholarship, for as anyone who collaborated on Physics 2 tests remembers, Mal certainly taught us that while we can surely do it on our own, we create magic when we get through it together, as a team. Shine on, Mal.
- K. B.
Even before I had Mal as a teacher, he would always say Hi to me when I walked in the front door every day. When I had Cicc for physics, Mal would sometimes just pop his head in and say something like "Remember, 1-D kinematics is what separates the men from the boys." When I had him for AP Physics, he was one of my favorite teachers ever. When he told us that he had cancer, the entire room went silent. When he started going in for treatments, he would call us and leave us little words of encouragement. It left a tear in the eye of even the most hardened student. I had the chance to see him at the Fall Physics Olympics meet in 2012, and he was smiling and cheerful. When I heard about his passing, it felt as though my entire body had gone numb, and I felt light-headed and dizzy. I went into the bathroom, and just broke down. Mal will be forever in my heart as not just a wonderful teacher, but as a life mentor and friend who truly cared about his students.
- Tom Rosenberger
What an honor it was having you as a teacher, a mentor, and a friend. Not only did you teach me Physics and how the World worked but you taught me how to "think." Your memory will always be fresh in our hearts and minds.
- Jonathan Miniman
I took Physics I and II with Mal and ate lunch every day in his classroom for two years. He was a great teacher and a great person. Thanks so much for setting up this fund. I am mailing my check right now.
- Anonymous
