Malamisura honored tonight at Bowen

BLUEFIELD — A familiar face will be missing at the front gate when the Bluefield Orioles’ 2007 season begins this evening. Patsy Malamisura died March 24 at the age of 84.

Malamisura, a well-known community volunteer, took up tickets at Bowen Field for many years in boiling heat and pouring rain.

He will be recognized in a pregame ceremony when a plaque to his memory is unveiled, according to his friend and the Orioles’ general manager, George McGonagle. The metal plaque will remain on the wall at the ballpark, and a wooden duplicate will be given to Malamisura’s wife Jean.

The general manager said that the couple’s son, Dr. Michael Malamisura, “will have a few words about Patsy and baseball” prior to the 7 p.m. start of the game.

The day after Malamisura’s death, Daily Telegraph executive editor Tom Colley said, “He has done so much to help young people in this community and few people know the extent of his service.”

McGonagle said that Malamisura “was a referee in baseball, football, basketball over the years. He’s been missed by so many people. He didn’t know a stranger.”

The general manager since 1988 said in a story published just after Malamisura’s death, “Patsy was working the gate here when I got here. He was always there and he was always on time. When I had to be out of town, Patsy would take the keys and help the high school teams get in the locker rooms.”

The native of Italy, a U.S. Army veteran of World War II, was a coach in Bluefield for years as a young man. He later managed the press box at Mitchell Stadium during high school football games.

— Contact Tom Bone at

tbone@bdtonline.com