In Memoriam: Theresa Mary Malumphy, 1932-2022

Tess Malumphy, a long-time faculty member at the University of Northern Colorado, died late last month at the Grace Pointe Senior Care Community in Greeley, Colorado. She was 90 years old.

A native of Harford, Connecticut, she grew up in Richmond, a rural town in the Berkshire Mountains of western Massachusetts. Dr. Maumphy held a bachelor’s degree from what is now Bridgewater State University in Massachusetts, a master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and a Ph.D. from Ohio State University. She conducted postdoctoral study in brain anatomy, neurophysiology and DNA at Northwestern University, Oregon State University, and Colorado State University.

Dr. Malumphy initially taught at New Britain High School in Connecticut. She then held faculty posts at the University of Wisconsin, the University of North Dakota, and the University of Oregon before joining the faculty at the University of Northern Colorado. She taught kinesiology and women’s studies at the University of Northern Colorado for 22 years. She also held the post of academic associate vice president for curriculum for a three-year term. Dr. Malumphy’s research focused on gender role development, dating violence, and feminist theology.

Following retirement from the University of Northern Colorado, Dr. Malumphy worked for 29 years as a peer counselor with North Range Behavioral Health, sharing her compassion and humor with her numerous elderly clients as well as with her counselor colleagues. Her main assignment was visiting nursing home residents.