Clement Rocco Malfa

Clement "Buddy" Malfa, passed away April 3, 2010 in Palm Springs at the age of 81. Born October 19, 1928 in Los Angeles to Sophia and Clem Malfa. He was the youngest of 4 children. His three older sisters, his sisters Edna Schneider and Dorothy Bennyworth, who predeceased him and he is survived by his sister Jeannette Hall and eight nieces and nephews and dozens of great nieces and nephews. Clem grew up in Boyle Heights and attended St. Mary’s Catholic School, graduating from Cathedral High School. He was a decorated Staff Sergeant in the Air Force during the Korean War. A long time resident of Montebello before moving to Palm Springs. · Clem spent almost 40 years in Advertising/Marketing. His qualities: · Devoted to his family, he always said it is all about the familia. · Very religious man, strong faith in God and always put his fate in God’s hands · Godfather to everyone, so many we lost count · As long as anyone can remember Clem was “Buddy” · He loved the outdoors; hiking, riding his bike, skating, skiing, · He loved to travel and spoke often about his cherished trip to Italy. Until recently, he spent a week every summer in Truckee in the peacefulness of the mountains · He believed in his causes and worked on Proposition 5 with the Aqua Caliente Indians. He also supported the canonization of his favorite saint to be, Kateri Tekawitha. · His famous sayings were “play it by ear” and “it’s the best”. Conversations would go:“Buddy do you want to go to dinner? Let ‘s play it by ear but that restaurant over there is the best. Buddy, have you been there? No, but I hear it’s the best! · He loved parties and never said no to a dance with a cousin or niec. · He never meet a food he didn’t like or a wine he didn’t enjoy · He was fiercely independent and never complained. In his last hour on earth he argued he would not go to the doctor but never once let on how much pain he must have been in. · He also loved his sports…Dodgers, Angels, Lakers, Chargers, 49ers,. He used to say during the playoffs “you root for the home team and if they lose you move west to the next closet team”. He loved his horse races, drag races and even became a big soccer fan.· I guess the only thing most people could say negative about Buddy is that he was a loyal UCLA fan! But we loved him anyways. Funeral services were held at Riverside National Cemetery Friday April 16, 2010 at 11:45 a.m Donations can be made in Clem's memory to: St. Joseph’s Indian School, 111 South Main Street, Chamberlain, SD 57325-1326 or www.stjo.org