KILMARNOCK—On November 23, 2021, at age 81, Joan St. Peter Maloy succumbed to lung cancer after a lengthy battle with the disease. Put briefly, she was an amazing, spirited woman and led an extraordinarily interesting life.
She was born on a farm in Caribou, Maine, the youngest of seven children of homesteaders Kermit and Loretta St. Peter. The family ultimately settled in Rockland, where Joan, her father’s favorite, grew up and went to the local primary school. Upon reaching high school age, she attended and graduated from St. Joseph’s Academy in Portland, then graduated from Westbrook Junior College, where at five foot two at best she was somewhat of a star on the college’s nascent fencing team.
By that time, young Miss St. Peter was ready to spread her wings, escape Maine, and see the world. As if the fates had predestined her future, she applied for a covert position in the Central Intelligence Agency, was accepted, and so began her professional career.
In 1963 she was approached in the CIA library by her husband-to-be, Kevin André Maloy, an agency operative, and for the two of them it was love at first sight. They married on May 2, 1964, and were virtually inseparable during most of the ensuing years of their lives, the initial 30 of which were spent on career operational tours in Europe and elsewhere. Then, after they retired from the CIA, they worked as private contractors for a dozen or so years before retiring finally and completely about 2002 and travelled widely in Europe, chiefly in Great Britain, where husband and wife metal detected for antiques, gold and silver collectibles, days on end in the blazing sun or in the muddy trenches. Some success, some in vain.
Joan Maloy is survived by her husband, Kevin Maloy Sr.; sons, Kevin Maloy Jr. (Amy) and Kreag (Deborah); and daughter Pier-Alysia Maloy Coyne (Sean); and 11 grandchildren, Connor, Kevin III, Patrick, Tessa, Marybeth, Kristine and Brian Maloy; Zachary and Alexander Maloy; and Áine and Rand Faelen Coyne.
Joan (known to many as Joanne) lived her life to the fullest and was always available to assist those in need or otherwise deserving of her attention. She was an active member of the congregation at St. Paul Catholic Church in Hague, contributing both her time and coin; assisted as a ranger in the renovation of Rice’s Hotel/Hughlett’s Tavern in Heathsville; paymaster over several years for Marine Corps League Detachment 1062; and gave aid to a host of beneficiaries including the poor, Christian causes and churches, and various social entities. With all that, her husband and children and the extended family always came first.
Joan Maloy was a fun-loving, joking prankster. She was a happy gamester and especially enjoyed poker, Bingo, gin rummy and Scrabble (“Just don’t play if you can’t pay when you lose”), and loved teaching her grandchildren the strategies and ins-and-outs of board games. She relished solving difficult crossword puzzles in the Wall Street Journal, liked the challenge, avoiding turning to the dictionary for answers.
We sorely miss the presence, smile and style of Joan St. Peter Maloy. A Mass service in her memory will be announced at a future date. Donations in her name may be made to St. Paul Catholic Church, 7808 Cople Highway, Hague, VA 22469.
Currie Funeral Home LLC of Kilmarnock handled the arrangements.
