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Malenke remembered after tragic accident

By Zach Shoaf For The 5 min read

WAYNESBURG – A Waynesburg College football player was remembered by his family as a man who had a strong faith, a dedication to family and a zeal for life that extended into everything he did.

Joshua Bruce Malenke, a junior defensive lineman, died last week in a motorcycle accident in Los Angeles, where he was studying for the semester at Los Angeles Film School.

“Joshua blessed me with 22 years of joy, excitement, humor, comfort and peace,” said his mother, Faith Malenke-Kaylor. “His humor helped me laugh, his tricks kept me on my toes and his creativity decorates my home.”

Malenke-Kaylor said cheering for her son, who also played football at Uniontown Area High School, kept her young, and his dedication made her proud.

But Malenke was far from just an athlete, said his girlfriend, Sarah Markwardt.

“One of the things that was extraordinary about Josh was that everything, including sports, was about self-improvement. He took a trip to Africa to film a documentary and I got to go with him. When we got back, he made sure to involve his teammates in the project,” she said.

His family said the young man’s faith shone through in his life.

“He lived his life in an order: Faith, family, sports,” said his sister, Hope Malenke-Bennett.

“His love for the Lord Jesus Christ was displayed in his life in the way he lived and how he treated people,” his mother said.

Malenke’s brother, West, said that his brother also found time to have fun, but “accepted the work that he needed to do in order to have fun.”

West Malenke remembered his brother as a strong competitor.

“He always wanted to improve and better himself,” West Malenke said.

Coaches and professors also reflected on how much he enjoyed life.

Uniontown football coach and Athletic Director John Fortugna said that Malenke was among the best players he had worked with.

“Greatest kid to be around,” said Fortugna. “You couldn’t find a better overall person. He knew so much about the game and always gave it his all. The best part was he never hung his head after a loss. He wasn’t that type of guy.”

As a starter beginning his sophomore year as a middle linebacker for the Red Raiders, Malenke earned first-team All-Keystone Conference honors his junior and senior seasons.

Malenke also served as a team captain for the Red Raiders starting his junior season.

It was this success that led Yellow Jackets’ coach Rick Shepas to recruit Malenke.

“He seemed like a great fit for what we wanted to do here,” Shepas said. “He was relentless. His motor was always going. He was a tireless worker who kept at his techniques and always improved.”

Playing in 22 games for the Yellow Jackets, Malenke recorded 47 tackles and five sacks.

Shepas said that Malenke wanted to be more than just a football player and cited his father, the late Bruce R. Malenke, as an influence in the young man’s life. Bruce Malenke was killed in a plane crash in 1994 when Josh Malenke was 5.

“He wanted to be a great humanitarian like his father was. That had a profound effect on him and he lived by the example of his father,” Shepas said.

Shepas said Josh Malenke also had a unique personality that made him popular among his teammates.

Among his favorite memories of Malenke, Shepas recounted an episode during one of the preseason camp meals when Malenke was a freshman.

“We ask the older guys to step up and introduce themselves so the younger guys won’t feel nervous,” said Shepas. “Most guys would sing their alma mater. Josh sang, “I’m a Little Teapot.” That was Josh being Josh. He loved life.”

Yet, Shepas noticed that Malenke never made excuses and so when the player wanted to go to Los Angeles to gain experience for his career in electronic media, the coach supported him fully.

“Josh was a great example of someone who had a dream and strived for it,” said Shepas. “He gave his all in the weight room and worked out with a passion. I never felt he was trying to get out of anything. I knew his dream and supported him fully when he left for L.A.”

Richard Krause, assistant professor of communication and chair of the university’s Department of Communication, advised Malenke.

“He was very excited about going to Los Angeles,” said Krause. “He was a model student for what we wanted in this department. He was involved in communication, theater, played on the football team. Just a very unique individual.”

Like Shepas, Krause said he would never forget Malenke’s personality.

“He was comfortable in his own skin,” said Krause. “Even if that skin was covered with lime green socks. That was Josh.”

Malenke’s mother said that her son had a way of making anyone he was around comfortable and at ease.

“He will be deeply missed, but his memory will live on and on,” Malenke-Kaylor said.

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