Obituary of Gladys R. Maley

On February 23, 2018 a wonderful mother, grandmother, wife and scientist passed away at the age of 91. In addition to these admirable traits, she was an excellent cook, baker and seamstress. Gladys was born in Aurora Illinois on June 7th 1926 to Ralph and Alice Feldott, the youngest of three children. She grew up on a farm during the difficult years of the great depression and graduated from Naperville High School and North Central College, which she attended on a scholarship, majoring in chemistry. Afterwards she attended the University of Wisconsin in Madison where she was a graduate student in Biochemistry obtaining a masters and Ph.D. in this subject. While working towards her degrees she became the wife of Frank Maley, also a graduate student in the same laboratory at the Enzyme Institute. After Frank's graduation in 1956 they moved to the Biochemistry Department of New York University Medical School where they pursued post-doctoral studies in the laboratory of Severo Ochoa, an eventual Nobel Prize winner. While working as a postdoctoral fellow with Gerhardt Plaut in whose house she was married, she discovered a key intermediate in the biosynthesis of the vitamin, riboflavin. In 1958 they moved to Albany NY where Frank obtained a position as a research scientist in the Division of Laboratories and Research of the New York State Department of Health. Gladys joined her husband as a collaborator supporting herself on grants from the National Institutes of Health and the American Heart Association until 1970 when she obtained a position with the Department of Health. The two continued to work together on numerous disease related research projects while raising three children (Ellen, Julia and Corsan). In 1991 she and her husband received the Excellence in Research Award from SUNY Albany for their many research contributions. After 45 years at the Health Department she retired in 2003 she but continued working with her husband as a visiting scientist until 2012. Gladys is survived by her husband of almost 65 years Frank, her sister Blanche Laffey, children Ellen (Michael) Wayne, Julia Maley and Corsan (Majalisa) Maley. She also leaves 5 grandchildren, Megan (Michael) Gurell, Michael (Lauren) Wayne, Nicholas, Thomas and Grace Maley. She is also survived by her great grandson Jacob Paul Wayne. Gladys was an avid reader indulging herself in both science journals as well as fiction and non-fiction subjects. She also loved watching golf, baseball and listening to classical music. A memorial service to celebrate her life will be held in June. We would like to express our sincere appreciation to the staff of St. Peter's Rehabilitation Center, particularly the nursing aids, for their compassionate care of this lovely lady whose infectious smile captured everyone's heart.