Malcolm was born in Montclair New Jersey in 1928 to Marjorie and Nevin Stevenson. Malcolm joined the family after Nevin Jr. (Steve) and Ann Margaret (Nancy). Malcolm was afflicted with asthma as a child, and so was often confined to his home. During these times, he developed a love of reading and of history, and created an amazing army of soldiers made from pipe cleaners, each with a uniform painted in detail, a name, and all organized into military units. As he grew, Malcolm enjoyed his after school job as a soda jerk at Kyle’s Pharmacy, and his summer job as the handyman at Camp Nyoda. He graduated from Montclair high school in 1951, after being the manager of the football team. He attended Tusculum College in Greeneville, Tennessee, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1951. After college, Malcolm enlisted in the Air Force and served as a radio operator in B36 Bomber planes.
Returning to Montclair after his service in the Air Force, Malcolm began his career with Bell Laboratories as a technical editor and writer. He met Betty through a Bible Study group at Union Congregational Church and they married on May 25, 1957. Malcolm and Betty settled in West Caldwell, later moving to Montclair, where they raised three children. Malcolm was active in the community, volunteering for the Civil Air Patrol, gathering props for productions at the Montclair Operetta Club, serving on the board of the Montclair Adult School, working on publicity for Boy Scout Troop 13, and serving as a deacon and usher at Union Congregational Church. Malcolm still found time, studying at night, to earn two Master’s degrees, one a Masters of Art in English Literature from Seton Hall University in 1971 and the second a Master of Science in technical writing from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1982. Malcolm and Betty belonged to many social organizations including a couples club through church, the Upper Montclair Chowder & Marching Society, and a gourmet club. Malcolm loved to cook, taste wine, and bake cookies. He was famous for his whisky nut balls, which garnered many invitations at holiday time. Malcolm was an avid gardener, rising with the sun to putter, and created a formal garden in the side yard of his home. Malcolm developed a love of camping and hiking, and led many hikes for the Murray Hill Canoe Club.
After retirement from Bell Laboratories in 1990, Malcolm and Betty felt the call of family, so they sold their Victorian home in Montclair and ventured out west to be closer to children and grandchildren, settling south of Denver, Colorado. In Denver, Malcolm and Betty continued to be active in their community, maintaining a section of the Highline Canal Trail and volunteering at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science as docents for special exhibits. Malcolm also helped the museum research past donators of artifacts to the museum. He then turned his research talents to discover the history of the homesteaders who originally settled the area that is now Golden Gate Canyon State Park. Malcolm and Betty travelled extensively in the United States, Europe, and England, and visited Peru and Ecuador, hiking many trails, enjoying art, music, museums, food and wine wherever they went. Malcolm and Betty often entertained, offering their friends, new and old, plentiful food and wine, and on special occasions shooting water balloons from a giant slingshot off their back deck. Malcolm loved history and was a great storyteller.
Malcolm is survived by his wife Betty Stevenson of Centennial CO, children Margaret (Maggie) Van Cleef and her husband Mark Van Cleef of Centennial Colorado, Amy Stevenson and her husband Joel Okstein of Matawan New Jersey, Douglas Stevenson and his wife Harlean Stevenson of Highlands Ranch Colorado, grandchildren Moriah Hyde and her husband Dylan Hyde of Germany, and Luke Van Cleef of Denver Colorado, sister-in-law Beverly Stevenson of Falls Church Virginia, niece Sally Sweatt and husband Robert (Bob) Sweatt of Maidens Virginia and nephew Alexander (Sandy) Stevenson and wife Luanne Stevenson of Manassas Virginia. Malcolm was predeceased by his brother, Nevin (Steve) Stevenson and his sister Ann Margaret (Nancy) Adams and brother-in-law John (Jack) Adams.
Services will be held at Chapel Hill Mortuary 6601 S. Colorado Blvd, Centennial CO 80121:
Tuesday January 22, 2019
Visitation 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. (Chapel)
Wednesday, January 23, 2018
Service (Chapel) 10:00 a.m.
Graveside Service 11:00 a.m.
Reception (Summit Room) 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Donations can be made to Environmental Learning for Kids at http://www.wlkkisa.org/content/donate or checks: ELK PO Box 21679, Denver, CO 80221 phone 303-291-7553
OR
Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research at www.michaeljfox.org
Hiking is Life, the Rest is Details!
