John Malack

John Malack of Manchester Village, Vermont died on April 8, 2015 at the age of 90. He was born in Miglesov, Slovakia on June 19, 1924. He was raised in beautiful Bratislava, Slovakia where he played semi-professional soccer on a national level. As a young man, during the height of World War II, he survived a harrowing escape from his Nazi occupied homeland. Fortunately, John made his way to an Allied refugee camp where he was granted passage on a ship to Caracas, Venezuela. He spent a few years in Caracas working, saving, and mastering the Spanish language (one of six languages that he spoke fluently) before finally obtaining a treasured visa to the United States. John came to New York City in the early 1950's to study architecture at Pratt Institute. In 1956, in New York City, John met his wife Lucy Nunez, and they were married in 1957. They made their home in Ridgefield, Connecticut where John started a long career in construction management. In 1975 he moved to Manchester, Vermont where he was instrumental in the renovation of the Equinox Hotel working for the Galesi Group. He retired from the Galesi Group in 1984, then continued his career working on projects in Connecticut and Florida. John always loved Manchester and wished to spend the rest of his days there. He died peacefully in his long time Manchester Village home which he designed and built. John was a benevolent and generous man with an unwavering optimism and indomitable spirit that will be greatly missed by his loving family and all who knew him.He is survived by his beloved wife of 57 years, Lucy Malack; daughter Anne Marie Malack of Pleasanton, CA; daughter Mary Lou Navin and husband, Scott, of Norfolk, MA; and three grandchildren: John Navin, Abigail Navin, and Emmett Stahl. Services: A memorial service will be held on May 2, 2015 at 1 p.m. at St. Paul's Catholic Church, Manchester, Vermont. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions, in John's name, be made to the Manchester Rescue Squad or a charity of your choice. A memorial service will be held on May 2, 2015 at 1 p.m. at St. Paul's Catholic Church, Manchester, Vermont.