Town trail dedicated to late environmentalist

Even when John F. Malley was too sick to sit on the Westborough Conservation Commission, the fierce protector of open space always made sure his opinion counted.

When he was confined to his home and using a wheelchair, Malley kept his ties strong as an honorary member by swapping information packets. For almost every update the town sent Malley over the past five years, he returned his own report -- the nature lover's thoughts, suggestions, and occasional essays and newspaper clippings.

''He always seemed to know what was going on somehow," Stephen Henry, a friend who served on the board with Malley for more than 12 years, said with a chuckle. ''He was always ahead of us."

It was that dedication to preserving Westborough's most vulnerable lands that persuaded town officials to name a portion of the town's 28-mile Charm Bracelet Trail after the 56-year-old, who died of Lou Gehrig's disease at his home on March 2 after an 11-year battle. Also known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, the condition is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects the brain and spinal cord.

''It's a tribute to him for all he did to help make these trails a reality," said commission chairman Edward Brady, a member of the board for more than 12 years.

The John F. Malley trail will be dedicated during a 1:30 p.m. ceremony today at its entrance, near the Mill Road boat ramp.

Malley's wife of 34 years, Judy, will attend with the couple's son and daughter and their two grandchildren.

The ceremony will be followed by a walk along the 1.25-mile trail, which hugs the shore of Mill Pond and ends behind Malley's home near the first vernal pool he certified and filed with the state Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program more than 10 years ago. Certification protects pools, temporary wetlands that are home to various organisms including fairy shrimp and salamanders.

''John Malley for 19 years really was the key person for environmental awareness and preservation in Westborough," said Westborough Land Trust president Kris Allen, whose group proposed the dedication.

Malley's adoration of the outdoors began during his childhood in Terryville, Conn., Judy Malley said of her high school sweetheart.

While he was in the eighth grade in 1962, Malley penned a poem called ''The Forest" that describes the change of seasons in nature. Malley's love of the outdoors was evident in all his hobbies, including hiking, fishing, gardening, canoeing, bird watching, and marathon running.

''Anything outdoors he just loved to do. He was just passionate about it. Some people are passionate about sports; he was more passionate about hiking," said Judy Malley.

Malley talked about her husband's story on Labor Day in the studios of WCVB-TV (Channel 5) on a local segment of Jerry Lewis telethon for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. She helped collect $4,000 in donations for the association, which also funds research into ALS.

Even when he was feeling his worst, Malley managed to enjoy nature, his wife said. Malley became sick in 1995, but was not diagnosed with ALS until 1997. He was placed on a respirator in the fall of 1998.

''We have bird feeders all over the house," Judy Malley said. ''Our house has many windows, and it was my job to keep the bird feeders full."

The trail will be the second piece of land named in Malley's honor. In 1997, the New England Electric System, now National Grid, acknowledged Malley's commitment to the environment by unveiling John F. Malley Park in Buckland. Malley, who earned a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering and a master's degree in business administration from Worcester Polytechnic Institute, was a vice president in marketing for one of the company's subsidiaries until he retired in 1999.

He joined the Conservation Commission more than 20 years ago and quickly became known for his tote of choice.

''John never came to our meetings with a briefcase. He had a cardboard box," Henry said. ''He didn't really need it because he had a photographic memory. As far as I know, he carried it around to prove to people he was right."

The Conservation Commission, like many similar local boards throughout the state, is responsible for guarding the town's natural resources, environmental planning, advising officials on environmental concerns, and ensuring the town follows guidelines outlined in the state's wetlands and rivers protection acts.

Known for his laid-back approach, Malley surprised many with his behind-the-scenes efforts with developers.

''He would find out a developer was coming and work with them. By the time they came before the town they had built an open space component into the plans," Henry said.

''I just thought we had great developers in town. It turned out John had been doing a lot of legwork to set it up."

One example of Malley's hard work is an area of open space off Ruggles Street inside the Wayside Estates development of single-family houses, Henry said. That land will one day be built into the town's charm bracelet.

''John was a long-range thinker," Henry said. ''It made our jobs a lot easier."