“Doc” Malinoski Is Parade Grand Marshal

The Mayville Fourth of July Parade Committee has announced the selection of Francis “Doc” Malinoski as the grand marshal for this year’s parade, to be held Saturday beginning at 10:15 a.m.

Mr. Malinoski is currently serving as the village’s summer youth recreation director, a position he has held for 31 years. He has also been park director for 25 years.

He served as athletic director at Mayville Central School for 27 years, retiring in 1983.

As summer youth recreation director, Mr. Malinoski is responsible for the operation of a six-week recreation program held every year at Mayville’s Lakeside Park. The program, which is open to all youth residing in the Town of Chautauqua, offers playground activities, Red Cross swimming instruction, sporting events and contests, weekly shows and special activities.

According to Mr. Malinoski, his major duty as park director is to serve as a troubleshooter, handling all problems which arise in the day-to-day operation of the park. He works closely with staff members to ensure that patrons are kept happy and that a good, safe facility is available for everyone to enjoy.

Mr. Malinoski is pleased with recent improvements in the working relationship between village administration and his department. He attributes these improvements to the new administration which recently took office.

“I feel we have the most active village board and administration in many years, seriously concerned with bringing back what it used to be,” Mr. Malinoski said. He added the park is something everyone should be proud of and is happy to see it receiving the attention it deserves.

He is extremely pleased with the new dock and is looking forward to the completion of the building of the grandstand.

Much work is planned for the immediate future, including updating the shuffleboard court, reopening the horseshoe pits, providing facilities for volleyball and improving the boat launching sites.

A native of Cattaraugus, Mr. Malinoski is a veteran of World War II, having served in the Naval Amphibious Unit in southern France. He was actively involved in campaigns at Normandy and Okinawa.

He is a 1949 alumnus of Ithaca College with a degree in physical education and health. He worked in the athletic department at Delevan-Machias Central School for five years and was employed by the Niagara Falls YMCA for two years before coming to Mayville in 1956.

Mr. Malinoski and his wife Martha Jane have been married 40 years. They have three sons: Andy, a veterinarian; John, a teacher; Peter, a graphic design student at the University of Kentucky; and a daughter, Julie, who lives with her family in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The Malinoskis also have five grandchildren.

A physical fitness advocate throughout his life, Mr. Malinoski has been an avid jogger for 15 years. He has cut back on running while recovering from eye surgery, but maintains a regimen of walking and riding a stationary bicycle.

Despite his dedication to exercise, Mr. Malinoski is looking forward to riding the parade route in a chauffeured convertible, especially if Saturday is a typically hot July day.

The parade will end, fittingly, at the park where Doc Malinoski has spent so much of his time during the last quarter century. Here he has cared for two treasures, the village’s park and the area’s children.

For this reason, as parade committee member Cheryl Hall stated, “There is no better choice when deciding who should have this honor.”