Clifton Maloney
Encyclopedia
Clifton Harlan Wells Maloney (October 15, 1937 – September 25, 2009) was an American
businessman.
, Maloney graduated from Princeton University
and Harvard Business School
. He was also a serious athlete and adventurer and a member of the Explorers Club, the Alpine Club
, and the New York Yacht Club
. Maloney was a lifelong runner who went on to complete the New York City Marathon
twenty times, and in 2008 finished the race as the fastest American in his age group.
in charge of investment banking. He was a director of Chromium Industries, Inc., and the Wall Street Fund. He was active in civic and social service organizations in Manhattan, serving on the boards of directors of Civitas and the New York Foundation for Senior Citizens, and served as the treasurer for his wife's campaigns.
's 14th Congressional District in Manhattan and Queens. They had two daughters: Christina and Virginia.
," one of the fourteen peaks in the world that are greater than 8,000 meters in altitude. He climbed five of the "Seven Summits
", the tallest mountains on each of the seven continents, including Denali in Alaska
, Mount Kilimanjaro
in Africa
, the Vinson Massif
in Antarctica, Aconcagua
in the Andes
, and Mount Elbrus
in the Caucasus
. On September 24, 2009, at the age of 71, Maloney summited the nearly 27,000-foot peak of Cho Oyu
, the world's sixth-highest mountain, in Tibet
. He reached the summit of the "Turquoise Goddess", as the mountain is known, with the help of a sherpa
and a guide, Marty Schmidt. He then descended to Camp 2 at 23,000 feet. On the morning of September 25, 2009 he woke up and told a companion, "I'm the happiest man in the world -- I have just climbed a beautiful mountain." These were apparently his last words as he went back to sleep and never woke up.
On October 9, 2009, Maloney's funeral service was held at the Brick Presbyterian Church in Manhattan. Nearly 1,000 mourners, including former President Bill Clinton
, New York State Governor David Paterson
, and former Democratic Vice-Presidential nominee and Congresswoman Geraldine Ferraro
, were in attendance at the service, which included a performance by singer-songwriter Carole King
of "So Far Away
".
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
businessman.
Early life
A veteran of the United States NavyUnited States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
, Maloney graduated from Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
and Harvard Business School
Harvard Business School
Harvard Business School is the graduate business school of Harvard University in Boston, Massachusetts, United States and is widely recognized as one of the top business schools in the world. The school offers the world's largest full-time MBA program, doctoral programs, and many executive...
. He was also a serious athlete and adventurer and a member of the Explorers Club, the Alpine Club
Alpine Club
The first Alpine Club, founded in London in 1857, was once described as:Today, Alpine clubs stage climbing competitions, operate alpine huts and paths, and are active in protecting the Alpine environment...
, and the New York Yacht Club
New York Yacht Club
The New York Yacht Club is a private social club and yacht club based in New York City and Newport, Rhode Island. It was founded in 1844 by nine prominent sportsmen. The members have contributed to the sport of yachting and yacht design. The organization has over 3,000 members as of 2011. ...
. Maloney was a lifelong runner who went on to complete the New York City Marathon
New York City Marathon
The New York City Marathon is a major annual marathon that courses through the five boroughs of New York City. It is one of the largest marathons in the world, with 45,103 finishers in 2010...
twenty times, and in 2008 finished the race as the fastest American in his age group.
Career
Maloney founded the eponymous investment company C. H. W. Maloney & Co., Inc. in 1981, of which he was President. Prior to that, he was a Vice President at Goldman SachsGoldman Sachs
The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. is an American multinational bulge bracket investment banking and securities firm that engages in global investment banking, securities, investment management, and other financial services primarily with institutional clients...
in charge of investment banking. He was a director of Chromium Industries, Inc., and the Wall Street Fund. He was active in civic and social service organizations in Manhattan, serving on the boards of directors of Civitas and the New York Foundation for Senior Citizens, and served as the treasurer for his wife's campaigns.
Family
In 1976, Clifton Maloney married Carolyn Bosher Maloney, who later was elected the United States Representative for New YorkNew York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
's 14th Congressional District in Manhattan and Queens. They had two daughters: Christina and Virginia.
Mountain climbing and death
Maloney was an accomplished mountaineer who at the time of his death was believed to be the oldest American ever to summit an "Eight-thousanderEight-thousander
The eight-thousanders are the fourteen independent mountains on Earth that are more than high above sea level. They are all located in the Himalayan and Karakoram mountain ranges in Asia....
," one of the fourteen peaks in the world that are greater than 8,000 meters in altitude. He climbed five of the "Seven Summits
Seven Summits
The Seven Summits are the highest mountains of each of the seven continents. Summiting all of them is regarded as a mountaineering challenge, first postulated as such and achieved on April 30, 1985 by Richard Bass .-Definition:...
", the tallest mountains on each of the seven continents, including Denali in Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
, Mount Kilimanjaro
Mount Kilimanjaro
Kilimanjaro, with its three volcanic cones, Kibo, Mawenzi, and Shira, is a dormant volcano in Kilimanjaro National Park, Tanzania and the highest mountain in Africa at above sea level .-Geology:...
in Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
, the Vinson Massif
Vinson Massif
Vinson Massif is the highest mountain of Antarctica, lying in the Sentinel Range of the Ellsworth Mountains, which stand above the Ronne Ice Shelf near the base of the Antarctic Peninsula. The massif is located about from the South Pole and is about long and wide. At the highest point is Mount...
in Antarctica, Aconcagua
Aconcagua
Aconcagua is the highest mountain in the Americas at . It is located in the Andes mountain range, in the Argentine province of Mendoza and it lies west by north of its capital, the city of Mendoza. The summit is also located about 5 kilometres from San Juan Province and 15 kilometres from the...
in the Andes
Andes
The Andes is the world's longest continental mountain range. It is a continual range of highlands along the western coast of South America. This range is about long, about to wide , and of an average height of about .Along its length, the Andes is split into several ranges, which are separated...
, and Mount Elbrus
Mount Elbrus
Mount Elbrus is an inactive volcano located in the western Caucasus mountain range, in Kabardino-Balkaria and Karachay-Cherkessia, Russia, near the border of Georgia. Mt. Elbrus's peak is the highest in the Caucasus, in Russia...
in the Caucasus
Caucasus
The Caucasus, also Caucas or Caucasia , is a geopolitical region at the border of Europe and Asia, and situated between the Black and the Caspian sea...
. On September 24, 2009, at the age of 71, Maloney summited the nearly 27,000-foot peak of Cho Oyu
Cho Oyu
Cho Oyu is the sixth highest mountain in the world at above sea level. Cho Oyu lies in the Himalayas and is 20 km west of Mount Everest, at the border between China and Nepal...
, the world's sixth-highest mountain, in Tibet
Tibet
Tibet is a plateau region in Asia, north-east of the Himalayas. It is the traditional homeland of the Tibetan people as well as some other ethnic groups such as Monpas, Qiang, and Lhobas, and is now also inhabited by considerable numbers of Han and Hui people...
. He reached the summit of the "Turquoise Goddess", as the mountain is known, with the help of a sherpa
Sherpa people
The Sherpa are an ethnic group from the most mountainous region of Nepal, high in the Himalayas. Sherpas migrated from the Kham region in eastern Tibet to Nepal within the last 300–400 years.The initial mountainous migration from Tibet was a search for beyul...
and a guide, Marty Schmidt. He then descended to Camp 2 at 23,000 feet. On the morning of September 25, 2009 he woke up and told a companion, "I'm the happiest man in the world -- I have just climbed a beautiful mountain." These were apparently his last words as he went back to sleep and never woke up.
On October 9, 2009, Maloney's funeral service was held at the Brick Presbyterian Church in Manhattan. Nearly 1,000 mourners, including former President Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
, New York State Governor David Paterson
David Paterson
David Alexander Paterson is an American politician who served as the 55th Governor of New York, from 2008 to 2010. During his tenure he was the first governor of New York of African American heritage and also the second legally blind governor of any U.S. state after Bob C. Riley, who was Acting...
, and former Democratic Vice-Presidential nominee and Congresswoman Geraldine Ferraro
Geraldine Ferraro
Geraldine Anne Ferraro was an American attorney, a Democratic Party politician, and a member of the United States House of Representatives. She was the first female Vice Presidential candidate representing a major American political party....
, were in attendance at the service, which included a performance by singer-songwriter Carole King
Carole King
Carole King is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. King and her former husband Gerry Goffin wrote more than two dozen chart hits for numerous artists during the 1960s, many of which have become standards. As a singer, King had an album, Tapestry, top the U.S...
of "So Far Away
So Far Away (Carole King song)
“So Far Away” is a song written by Carole King and appeared on her 1971 album Tapestry. The recording features James Taylor on acoustic guitar. In the 1995 album Tapestry Revisited, it was covered by Rod Stewart...
".