-- Fr.
Paul Bernadicou, S.J., Chair and Associate Professor-Theology
"Fr.
Malatesta was gentle, compassionate, visionary and
one of my closest friends and most respected mentors.
He was so patient with me when I erred. He influenced
me a great deal as a person and as a Christian. He
was my major professor’ after my Ph. D. I wonder
who can follow in his footsteps, who can continue
the important work left in the institute? The people
in China have lost a great servant and friend."
-- Paul
Chien, Professor-Biology
"Long
before his involvement with Asian studies and the
Ricci Institute, and even before his ordination, Ed
Malatesta as a Jesuit scholastic taught me and my
classmates at St. Ignatius High (then on the USF campus).
He was moderator of our Sanctuary Society and presided
over our "Sanc Shindigs" with movies in
Gill Theatre. With other Jesuits he donned sweats
and sneaks to take us on Sodality retreats and picnics.
And he taught those of us selected for the honorary
classical course in Greek. But far more memorable
than his introducing us to the Iliad and Odyssey were
his Jesuit identity, solid faith and spirit of generosity."
-- George
Devine, '62, Part-Time Faculty-Theology and Business
"...Fr.
Ed was always respectful and sought people's opinions.
He was an excellent listener, and never tried to overwhelm
people either with bluster or intimidation. I was
fortunate to serve on a number of committees with
him, and he was always the voice of common sense....The
world was his stage, and he felt total comfort in
going off to China or off to Rome to pursue his projects
in building bridges of understanding between China
and the rest of the world. Fr Ed represented USF with
dignity and professionalism at various conferences
and meetings...And Fr. Ed never forgot his Italian
roots. He took me to some great Italian restaurants
in San Francisco. "How do you like that Marinara
sauce?" and he knew where to go as soon as I
said "spicy and thick." I will miss him
dearly--as a friend, as a fellow scholar of Asia,
and as a fellow colleague at USF."
--Uldis
Kruze, Associate Professor-History
"I
was with Fr. Malatesta in China for more than a week
not long before he died. The two projects he asked
me to collaborate on with him, the design of a Matteo
Ricci museum at the Jesuit cemetery site in Beijing,
and consultation for the chapel design of a new retreat
house in Shanghai, characterized the two great passions
of his life... He was particularly excited about the
opening of the first retreat house in mainland China,
where the heritage of St. Ignatius and the Spiritual
Exercises will animate another generation of lay and
religious leaders. He loved learning, he loved China,
he loved the Church. He died as he lived, serving
them all. Ed was a extraordinary scholar-diplomat
and a great priest."
-- Fr.
Thomas M. Lucas S.J., Chair-Fine and Performing Arts
Department
"...What
an honor it was for me to work with Fr. Malatesta
and the Ricci Institute staff on the International
Symposium Concerning the Chinese Rites Controversy
held here in 1992...In everything he did, it was done
with poise, humility, class and good humor. How appropriate
that Eddie Malatesta was to breathe his last on Chinese
soil (Hong Kong) on his way back to USF from Beijing.
Thanks to you, dear friend, Jesuit missionaries are
indeed back where they belong. Only a beginning,’
you would probably say, but that's probably what Ricci
said in 1610."
--Ray R.
Noll, Associate Professor-Theology
"The
life of Fr. Ed presents an example to a generation
of people, Jesuits and non-Jesuits, who, like him,
are following in the footsteps of Matteo Ricci and
devoting their efforts to building bridges across
the oceans and mountains that separate people of different
cultures, all for the purpose of bringing people and
cultures closer spiritually through scholarship and
true friendship."
--Xiaoxin
Wu, Acting Director Ricci Institute
