A friend too many and a man of varied and considerable talents, Winterville’s own Timothy “Itch” Maloney passed into eternal life Tuesday August 29 at Trinity Hospital in Steubenville after a long fight with ALS. Timothy John Maloney came into the world on December 30, 1966 the son of the late John and Garnett Ridgeway Maloney and is survived by his two sisters Julia Parissi and Kelly (Scott) Havice. A talented writer, Maloney heroically battled the debilitating disease since its diagnosis, just last weekend hosting “ItchStock” - what became a musical block party held in his honor at the Wintersville home of Dave and Renea Hunt, who provided him with loving care at their residence this past year. Friends from all over made the journey to Wintersville for a final visit with Itchy, sharing their love one last time. Writing and expressing himself was always in Tim’s blood. He contributed, often hilariously, to a Warrior student publication before his WHS graduation in 1985. The 1989 Bowling Green State University graduate was editor of the school’s News Friday Magazine. After college, he was a valued Ogden Newspapers writer, editor and layout chief, putting his talents to work at company publications in Steubenville, Wheeling, and Parkersburg. He worked under and revered the late, great Wheeling Intelligencer editor Robert “Bob” Kelly. Itch’s chronicling of his daily pains and joys in a series of vignettes he wrote on Facebook in the past year kept his friends abreast of his struggles with the disease while also entertaining them with descriptive memories of childhood and little kindnesses he got to experience along the way in this bittersweet life. Good friend and fellow Warrior Mark Spicer was right to note this week that Mr. Maloney may have found his true calling in recent years teaching and coaching at Hannan High School in Ashton, WV, where he was embraced by the community. He loved teaching, and developed deep ties with the faculty, staff and students there. Upon visiting for a few games this past winter, he was deeply moved when many former basketball and volleyball players, along with staff, students and friends, approached him for hugs and kind words. He loved Hannan and its people. Itch was the life of the party, both with his Warriors crew and as the “Big Chief” of his Love Tribe at Jo and Ted Miller’s annual Mardis Gras parties in Wheeling. He was a fixture at Humble Sacrifice shows in the late 1990s and even made it to a Train jumper’s concert at the Silver Rail in March. Before ALS robbed him of his athletic ability, Timmy was a scratch golfer, a competitor like his dad, who could hold his own on any golf course, anywhere. He was a club champion at his beloved Red Oaks and held in high regard for his ability to drain clutch birdie and par putts with money on the line. Itchy will be missed by all that knew and loved him. His final wish was to be cremated, and he wanted the Hunts to host one more final party, a big ol’ Irish wake in his honor, which they are currently planning. Other plans include a new scholarship in his honor to be established at Hannan.