Bench Dedicated to Tom Malone

By Daniel Crawford, The Sandy Standard

Former Sandy Mayor Linda Malone has dedicated a bench in front of her Bluff Road home to honor her late husband Tom Malone, who passed away on March 5, 2025,  from metastatic cancer in his prostate and lower spine.  Linda’s home sits in the middle of the hill between Strawbridge Road and Sandy Heights on the south-side of Bluff Road.  

SheHer and Tom often sat outside of their cozy home. Over the years, they both had noticed several walkers and young mothers pushing strollers struggling to get up the hill.  Tom wondered if a bench could be placed in his yard to aid walkers and give them a chance to catch their breath at the midway point, but he passed away before realizing his bench idea.

Linda decided a bench would be the perfect way to fulfill Tom’s dream and honor  Tom. Through friends, she was put in touch with a craftsman named Nick Peterson and ordered the bench to be made out of white oak.  

“I wanted to have it (the bench) made out of a strong wood so that it would last a long time,” said Linda.  

Peterson told Linda that he had never made a bench before.  But that did not discourage her. She had seen his work and was impressed.  Peterson finished the bench and it turned out to be just the way she envisioned.

Sitting by itself, the bench looked good, but not great.  Something else was needed, Linda thought to herself. She decided to mount a little library of mostly children’s books and a small amount of adult literature. Peterson also built the little library to look like their Tuff Shed with a big red door standing in the yard.  The library sits next to the bench.

Linda’s dedication received a boost when she learned a registered number and a place on the world-wide map from The Little Library Association will be arriving by mail.  

“There are travelers all over the world that seek out Little Libraries.  Since the library has been installed there have been several readers who will stop at the bench then take a book and read it to their children.  It’s pretty amazing really,” said Linda.

Tom is known to legions of current and former Sandy Union High School students forduring his 20-year career as a security supervisor and coach.  He roamed the halls helping lost students find their way back to the classroom.  Surprisingly, some students have written Tom letters thanking him for helping to get theior lives back on track.  Linda has saved all of those letters.

Tom also coached the boys football team and the girls volleyball and softball teams  He will be remembered for his encouragement and influence to many former student-athletes.

In 1985, Linda met Tom when she was only 13 andwhile living in Southern California. Tom and several other football players came to her home to prank them by putting toilet paper all over their house.  

When Linda’s dad got home and saw the house covered in toilet paper, he chased the boys down but the only one he caught was Tom. Back to the house came dad, with Tom in tow.  

“Dad talked with Tom about the prank, then he made hot chocolate and popcorn.  All of the rest of the football team came back to our house to clean-up the toilet paper. So it all turned out fine,” said Linda. 

For now, a sign stands by the bench with an invitation to sit anytime.  A plaque is going to be placed on the bench very soon. The Malone’s’ daughter Molly and son T. D. are deciding the signage for the plaque. Tom was a big fan of ‘The Big Lebowski movies. Linda thinks her kids will decide on a famous line from the movie for the plaque reading, ‘The Dude Abides’.  

Linda says it is totally up to the kids how they want to honor their dad.

“He was such a nice man and a great friend to, not just myself but, so many others.  I miss him and I am glad to honor him,” said Linda.