Malcolm Hugo Colditz passed away on his beloved Rocky Top on October 26, 2021.
He leaves his wife Harriet Redding Colditz, their three sons Bruce, Forrest, Brooke and his wife Kathleen, grandchildren Ryan and his wife Ashley, Caroline and Max, great grandchildren Blake and Gavin, his brother Dr. Richard Colditz and his wife Beverly, nephew Stephen and nieces Cindy Grissinger and husband Lloyd, Jennifer Sulcer and husband Cliff.
Malcolm was born in Decatur, Alabama October 6, 1935, to Hugo and Hope Colditz. After graduating from McCallie School in 1953, Malcolm attended the University of Tennessee at Knoxville where he served as president of Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity, earned a degree in Chemical Engineering, and began his lifelong devotion to the University, it’s football program and considerable wardrobe of orange. Malcolm ventured from Knoxville after graduation, settling in Houston where he worked at Shell Chemical and soon met and married Harriet Redding. In 1976, Malcolm formed Sea Lion Chemical where he was President until he retired in 2011. He was an experienced commercial pilot, SCUBA diving instructor and certified divemaster. He and Harriet moved to his family home in Allardt, TN after retiring.
Malcolm was a VFL (Vol fan for life), active in the University of Tennessee community and rarely missing a home game. He traveled to some away games, but there were just a few stadiums he chose not to visit. In 1989, he was among nine Vol maniacs selected by Tennessee Illustrated. Gameday started early with tailgate feast, the Vol Walk and the band’s Salute to the Hill. The day did not end until the clock on the score board said :00 and the Tennessee Waltz was performed by the Pride of the Southland band. We were taught to never leave the stadium until these traditions had been honored. This ritual lasted decades and only stopped in recent years when it became more difficult. We had hoped he would see just one more victory over Florida, Georgia and Alabama, but it was not so. Those days will come. We know they will. He has inspired three generations of Vol fans and to date two generations of Tennessee graduates and generations to come. We will continue to cheer on the Vols and promise to never leave before :00, no matter the score, and we hear the Tennessee Waltz.
Dad, Mal, Nandy, Grosspoppy we miss you.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts are encouraged to the Malcolm H. Colditz Scholarship Endowment at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, via
https://giving.utk.edu/colditz or via check payable to UT Foundation, memo Malcolm H. Colditz Endowment, mailed to UT Engineering Development, 118 Perkins Hall, Knoxville, TN 37996-2012.
Memorial services for Malcolm will be on Saturday, October 30, 2021 at 11:00 am central time at the Allardt Presbyterian Church, 1715 Pennsylvania Ave, Allardt, TN 38504. Refreshments will be served after the service.
Jennings Funeral Homes of Jamestown in charge of the cremation and the family is in charge of the services for Malcolm Hugo Colditz of Allardt, TN.
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