Donald and Grace Malone

Obituaries for Donald and Grace

Donald Nicholas Malone, of Wayne NJ passed away on June 2, 2025 at the age of 83, just one day before the passing of his beloved wife of 59 years, Grace (nee Mandragona) Malone of Wayne.

Born May 4, 1942 in Passaic, NJ to the late Trina (nee Leeuwrik) and Jerry Malone, Don was brought up in Passaic and Clifton, NJ before settling in Wayne, NJ in 1966 upon marrying Grace.  He attended Stevens Institute of Technology where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering. As an undergraduate in his junior year, he was able to simultaneously enroll in and attend Stevens’ graduate school on his way towards earning a Master’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering.

Don was an engineer at Exxon Research and Engineering Co. in Florham Park, NJ, for 36 years before retiring in 2000. During his career he was involved with the planning, design, construction, and startup of new and expanded oil refineries. As a result, he and his family lived in numerous locations throughout the world including Thailand, Venezuela, France, Canada, England, Singapore, and California for periods of up to two years.  He did extensive consulting and contributed to safety and environmental improvements and the reduction of energy use in refineries.  Don also wrote and taught design methods courses for Exxon.

Don was an auto enthusiast from a young age and did most of his own maintenance and repairs. He was an avid “Do it Yourselfer”, who painted his house, designed and built a rear deck for his house, and did much of his own plumbing and electrical work.  He and Grace thoroughly enjoyed their annual summer vacations to St. Augustine, Florida over a span of decades.

 Above all, he cherished his family and prioritized spending time with them and sharing his life values and philosophy.

Surviving Don are his loving daughter Deborah G. Kayal and her husband George of Mahwah, NJ; dear son Gregory N. Malone and his wife Ann of South Windsor; CT; cherished grandchildren Jordan, James, Michael, and Joseph Kayal, and Elizabeth, Rachel, and Kyle Malone and sister-in-law, Rosanne Mandragona of Red Bank, NJ.  Don was predeceased by his brother, Kenneth R. Malone of Clifton in 2006 and his dear grandson Marcus Kayal in 2019.

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Grace (nee Mandragona) Malone, of Wayne NJ passed away on June 3, 2025 at the age of 82, just one day after the passing of her beloved husband of 59 years, Donald N. Malone of Wayne.

Born August 7, 1942 in New York City to the late Lillian (nee Mancuso) and James Mandragona, Grace was a graduate of Christopher Columbus High School in the Bronx.  She attended Hunter College evenings while working full-time as a secretary in the Instrumentation Division (where she met Don in 1963) and, subsequently, the Legal Department of the United States Atomic Energy Commission in New York City.  She moved to Wayne NJ in May 1966 upon getting married.  

Grace traveled extensively throughout the world with her family in connection with Don’s career.  The family lived in Thailand, Venezuela, France, Canada, California, England, and Singapore for periods of up to two years.  She was an active member of the Newcomers of Wayne / Prime Timers since 1984 and the Golden Age Circle of Wayne since 2008 where she ran multiple outings each year to Camp Hope in West Milford. Grace was a parishioner of Our Lady of the Valley Roman Catholic Church in Wayne.  A loving wife and devoted mother and grandmother, Grace was very family- oriented.  She spent countless hours on family genealogy and wrote a 376-page biography of her closest relatives, presenting a copy to each of her children and grandchildren. Over a period of fourteen years, she also babysat each of her daughter’s five boys before they began regular school.

Surviving Grace are her loving daughter Deborah G. Kayal and her husband George of Mahwah, NJ; dear son Gregory N. Malone and his wife Ann of South Windsor, CT; cherished grandchildren Jordan, James, Michael, and Joseph Kayal, and Elizabeth, Rachel, and Kyle Malone; and sister-in-law, Rosanne Mandragona of Red Bank, NJ.  Grace was predeceased by her brother, James S. Mandragona, in 2010 and her dear grandson, Marcus Kayal in 2019.