Joseph William “Joey” Malin, a former catering industry veteran who tutored countless b’nai mitzvah students and others for generations, passed away on Sunday, May 21. The longtime Pikesville resident was 79.
“The Chizuk Amuno synagogue community expresses our sincere condolences on the passing of our member, Joseph ‘Joey’ Malin,” the Pikesville congregation posted. “We extend our sympathies to the entire family. We hope you find comfort in your memories and may his memory forever be a blessing.”
A Baltimore native, Malin grew up working in his Russian-born father Abe’s business, Malin’s Delicatessen, on West Baltimore Street. Although he went into the catering field, Joey Malin always maintained a strong passion for Judaism and teaching, and he worked at several local congregations over the years. Malin and his wife, Lauri Sue, also officiated and performed at life cycle events in the community.
Malin tutored students one on one from local congregations as well as those coming from unaffiliated backgrounds, in particular young people with learning disabilities as well as adults studying for their b’nai mitzvah later in life.
In addition, Malin trained students who did not attend religious schools or belong to a congregation and would not otherwise experience a bar or bat mitzvah. “At least here they’re going to have a very positive experience,” Malin said in a February 2007 Baltimore Sun profile. (Among his students was Brooke Megan Greenberg, a Reisterstown resident who made international headlines for having an extremely rare condition that kept her approximately the size and developmental age of a 9-month-old infant. She died in October of 2013 at the age of 20.)
Malin was known for his friendly demeanor and welcoming smile, and he enjoyed catching up with old friends and speaking with young people. He reportedly taught as many as 150 students a year and officiated at more than 3,700 b’nai mitzvah ceremonies. He also taught his students about such matters as the essence of the Jewish holidays and the laws of kashrut.
“He was a true mensch,” Pikesville native Rachel Dubin wrote of Malin on the website of Sol Levinson & Bros. “He was my bat mitzvah tutor and he wholeheartedly believed a profoundly deaf girl could learn to chant Torah and Haftorah and the blessings. … Since my bat mitzvah was on Simchat Torah, I had two Torah portions instead of one, and he patiently taught me how to chant both and lead the entire Saturday morning liturgy. Thanks to Joey, I confidently lead the Torah blessings whenever I’ve been invited up to the bima for an aliyah and can lead services anywhere, anytime.”
Dubin, who now lives in Washington, D.C., and works as a university researcher, noted that she still has the cassette on which Malin prepared her bat mitzvah portion.
“Since one of my portions was the end of V’zot Ha-bracha, he taught me to say, ‘Chazak, chazak v’nitchazeik,‘” she wrote. “Every time I ran into Joey, including the last time, standing in Pizza Blitz at the Quarry [in Pikesville] either about a year ago or shortly before the pandemic hit, he would say, ‘Chazak,’ and I would respond likewise. Chazak, chazak, v’nitchazeik, Joey. May his memory be a blessing.”
Former Chizuk Amuno President Alan Kanter described Malin as “a wonderful tutor for bar and bar mitzvah students, especially those with special needs. His accomplishments cannot be overstated. Joey always had a smile on his face and I found it a real treat to always talking with him. He was a mensch and will be missed.”
Longtime Chizuk Amuno congregant Dr. David S. Roffman called Malin’s passing “a true jolt to the collective spirits of the Baltimore Jewish community. Among the many wonderful teachers of our tradition to our children, Joey served as a bedrock of that cohort. Always ready to teach Torah and Haftorah to any child no matter their skill level or learning disability, Joey was the smiling face of nurturing and support for so many. When we saw Joey in shul for b’nei mitzvot, we knew that that child had been taught in the most loving and compassionate way possible. … The gaping hole he left in this community will be felt for generations.”
Malin is survived by his wife of 17 years, Lauri Sue Malin (nee Kronthal); his children, Rusty (Kim) Burkhead, Neil (Alice) Malin, Amy (Andy) Cignatta, Joel (Jill) Hack, Staci Hack, Andy (Jen) Hack, Ari (Isabelle) Blitz, and Erin Blitz; his brother, Howard (Claretta) Malin; his grandchildren, Kristi (Graham), Cheyenne, Tyler, Melissa, Drew, Aidan, Lexi (fiance, Tradd), Ryan, Grady, Rhys, and Emilia (Emmy); his great-grandchildren, Logan, Norah, Taylor, Isabella, and Scarlett; and by Carol Malin and Marilyn Hack.
He was predeceased by his sister, Esther (Robert) Sherer; and parents, Sara and Abe Malin.
Services was held on Tuesday, May 23, at Sol Levinson’s Chapel, 8900 Reisterstown Rd. in Pikesville. Interment at Shaarei Zion Cemetery, 6301-6303 Hamilton Ave. in Rosedale.
Contributions in Malin’s memory may be sent to Chizuk Amuno Congregation, 8100 Stevenson Road, Baltimore, Maryland 21208; the Jewish National Fund, 78 Randall Avenue, Rockville Centre, New York 11570; Itineris Baltimore, 2050 Rockrose Ave, Suite A, Baltimore, Maryland 21211; Alzheimer’s Association, P.O. Box 96011, Washington, D.C. 20090-6011; or the charity of your choice.
The family will be in mourning at 3102 Old Post Dr. in Pikesville on Tuesday immediately following interment, with a service at 7 p.m. On Wednesday, there will be a morning service at 7:30 and an evening service at 7. On Thursday there will be a morning service at 7:30.
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