Michael J. O’Malley, 74, a city water inspector and Realtor whose skill at dog grooming earned him accolades, died of kidney cancer Saturday, Oct. 14, in his home in Palos Park. Born in Chicago, Mr. O’Malley grew up in the Beverly neighborhood, where he and his father raised Irish terriers, greyhounds and whippets for showing and racing, said his son Rev. Timothy. Mr. O’Malley likely owned a few hundred dogs in his youth, his son said. Mr. O’Malley attended St. Ignatius High School and graduated from Jones Commercial High School before joining the Army Air Corps and serving as a radar specialist on transport ships during World War II. He told stories about storms tossing water over the top of the ship’s cabin. After the war, Mr. O’Malley garnered notice for his skill at cutting Irish terriers’ fur in preparation for shows. Two universities tried to recruit him for his talents, his son said. Mr. O’Malley graduated from DePaul University, where he was a founding secretary of a chapter of the Alpha Beta Gamma fraternity. He planned to be a teacher, but decided instead to pursue a job with the city water department as a member of the plumbers Local 130. He married Eileen Shea in 1948 and the couple had 14 children. “My father has said numerous times that no one could ever take your education away from you,” said his son state Sen. Patrick O’Malley (R-Palos Park). “He clearly raised his children to be independent and self-reliant.” In 1968, Mr. O’Malley switched jobs to become a full-time Realtor. A resident of Palos Park since 1985, he had a garden and loved working with trees and flowers. He also liked to read, especially history. In addition to his sons, survivors include his wife, Eileen; his mother, Mary O’Malley Cummings; three daughters, Eileen, Mary Margaret Shannon and Joan O’Malley Gross; six other sons, Michael, Thomas, Terrence, Daniel, Paul and William; 17 grandchildren and a great-granddaughter. A visitation will be from 2 to 9 p.m. Tuesday in Sheehy and Sons Funeral Home, 9000 West 151st St., Orland Park. Arrangements for a funeral mass Wednesday at Sacred Heart Church, 8245 W. 111th St., Palos Hills, are pending.
