Mike passed away on July 1, 2021.

Michael Joseph O'Malley of Corvallis, was born on October 8, 1957 in Boston, Massachusetts. He was the son of Michael John O'Malley and Bridget Theresa Costello O'Malley, both of County Galway, Ireland.

The oldest child of immigrants, Mike was the first in his extended family to go to college. He received his Bachelor's Degree from Northeastern University in 1981, and his Master's Degree from Harvard University in 1990. He (proudly) dropped out of law school five times — University of Texas at Austin, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Northeastern (two times), and University of Oregon — before becoming a teacher.

From 1991 to 2006, Mike taught social studies and language arts in K-12 public education in South Carolina, State of Washington, and Oregon. He was voted "Best Teacher" wherever he taught. In 2000, while serving as the Director of Albany Night High School, he was asked to give several guest lectures at Oregon State University's College of Education. Soon thereafter, he was offered a part-time position at OSU. Inadvertently, a Boston backtalker had become a college professor.

Mike started working full-time at the College of Education in 2006.

Though he loved his friends and childhood memories, he often said the greatest joy of his too-short life was raising his children. He will be remembered for living with immeasurable gusto and joy, and touching so very many lives.

Mike is survived by his wife, Nell, his daughter, Bridget (26), and his son, Emmett (23), along with all of his former students, his sister, Mary M. O'Malley, of Weymouth, Massachusetts, his nephew, Michael J. Bittner, of Quincy, Massachusetts, his sister Anne C. Godwin, of Reading, Massachusetts, his brother, Patrick M. O'Malley of Norwood, Massachusetts, and his many nieces, nephews, and cousins all over the United States, Ireland, and England.

Mike O'Malley - In Memoria Photo

Mike O'Malley (1957-2021)

The family has decided to establish a scholarship in Mike's memory for OSU College of Education students. In lieu of flowers, please consider a gift to Mike's scholarship fund. Gifts can be made to the OSU Foundation at osufoundation.org or mailed to OSU Foundation, 4238 SW Research Way, Corvallis, OR 97333. Please indicate that the gift is in memory of Mike O'Malley.