Louis G. “Lou” Maloof

10/2/32 - 7/19/25
Lou Maloof died July 19, 2025 at Cape Cod Hospital of pneumonia. He was born in Newport, RI, and attended De La Salle Academy and then Boston College on full scholarships, graduating from the latter magna cum laude. In 1955, he was drafted into the U.S. Army as a paratrooper, where he was led by LTC Lillyman, the first American paratrooper to drop behind enemy lines on DDay. On June 18, 1956, he married Carole Buttner, whom he met at age 20 while doing his favorite thing: acting in a play. He went over to Italy by boat with the troops, and with his characteristic optimism and drive, answered the request for an ordnance typist—quickly teaching himself to type during the five days it took to cross the Atlantic. Their first child was born on the army base in Vicenza. In those days, parents had to travel for miles to the nearest consulate with their infants to have them added to their passports. Lou wrote to Rhode Island Senator Theodore Green, and initiated a new policy whereby U.S. officials facilitated the process by visiting all the army bases regularly themselves for this purpose.
Upon returning to the States, Lou taught Math and Science at North Quincy High, where he inaugurated the Drama Club. In the summer of 1958, he began his illustrious career in advertising as a researcher for the New York firm Dancer Fitzgerald Sample. For most of his professional life, he worked at Grey Advertising. In 1971, they sent him to Detroit to head up the Ford-Mercury account, and thus he became a “car guy.” His creativity, mellifluous voice, and magnetic personality made him a great success with both his clients and his team. Rising to Executive Vice President, Grey entrusted him to represent them internationally, bringing in new business.
It was in the early 70’s that he began his lifelong involvement in hospice. Later, in the early days of the AIDS epidemic, he bravely worked at The Gift of Love, Mother Theresa’s first palliative care home for people dying of AIDS. As she expanded her work, Lou carried out her mission of humane care for the poor and marginalized around the globe. His work in hospice made him an advocate for the dying, and his patients taught him to see impending death, not as something to be feared, but as the next adventure.
When he and Carole moved to Chatham in 1992, he continued his work in Hospice, and Elder Services. His charitable interests grew far-reaching: he was on the board of Companion Animals, Cape Cod Commercial Fishermen’s Alliance(CCCFA), Cape Cod Opera, The Chatham Music Club, and New Alternatives for Children (NAC), and he was actively involved with the Fellowship of Reconciliation, and the International Solidarity Movement—traveling six times to Palestine, seeking peace in the region.
Retirement in Chatham finally provided him the time to devote to his great passion of acting. While on the Cape, he appeared in hundreds of plays at Monomoy Theater, Harwich Junior Theater, Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater,
Chatham Drama Guild, Cape Rep, and Barnstable Comedy Club. His favorite performances included Benny Van Buren (“Damn Yankees”), Andrew Makepeace Ladd III (Love Letters), Ivan Ivanovich Nyukhin (“On the Harmful
Effects of Tobacco”) and Krapp in “Krapp’s Last Tape,” which he performed multiple times as fundraisers for the CCCFA, NAC, and Mother Theresa.
He was also an active member of Holy Redeemer Parish, where he served as a Eucharistic minister to the homebound, lector, and altar boy.
Lou left behind many who loved him. He was the last of his generation of Maloofs. In addition to his wife Carole, he is survived by daughters Paula (Eric) Krupin, Stella Maris Maloof, Julia (Frank) Verderosa, his beloved granddaughter Maya, his sister-in-law Sister Marjorie Buttner OP, numerous nieces and nephews, and his partner in crime, Rose, his black lab.
Preceded in death by his son, Frederic Maloof.
Heartfelt thanks to Laura Whitcomb, RN; Pete Penlington; Art McManus; theater cronies Tammy Harper, Nina Schuessler, Jan Richmond, and Susan and John Williams; and Cape Cod Hospital’s wonderful staff, especially nurses Jessica (ER), Courtney and Shea (Mugar 3).
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to New Alternatives for Children (https.//nackidscan.org) and Jewish Voice for Peace (jewishvoiceforpeace.org), envisioning a world where all people—from the U.S. to Palestine—live in freedom, justice, equality, and dignity.
A Funeral Mass will be held at 11 am, Monday July 28th at Holy Redeemer Church,  57 Highland Ave, Chatham Ma, 02650.
For online condolences, please visit www. nickersonfunerals.com