Michael Malyak, 91, of West Seneca, passed away on Sept. 22, 2026. Born at home on Gates Avenue in Lackawanna to Peter and Anna (née Stipanovich) Malyak, Mike attended Wilson and McKinley Elementary Schools, graduating from Lackawanna High School in 1953. He was married to the late Barbara (née Blackmon) for thirty-nine years before her death in 2010. Mike was also preceded in death by his parents, brothers Nicholas and Herbert, and grandnephew Matthew Malyak. He is survived by his sister Joanne (Michael) Kresovich of Massillon, Ohio; sisters-in-law Melva of Kingwood, TX, and Rose Ann of Cheektowaga, NY; six nephews and nieces, ten grandnephews and grandnieces, and three great-grandnephews. Mike never met a stranger, enjoyed making connections with others, and fostering relationships, of which there were many throughout this life. He was an active volunteer for many causes that he was passionate about. Mike's family will miss his stories, his love for his family, and his laughter the most.

Mike was employed at McDougall-Butler Co., and the Texas Company prior to enlisting in the US Air Force in 1955. While in the Air Force, he worked as an aircraft reports statistician at HQ, 15th Air Force (SAC), March AFB, California, and HQ, 3970th Air Base Group, Torrejon Air Base, Spain. He completed active duty in 1959, with the rank of Airman Second Class and was discharged from the inactive reserves in 1963. Mike was employed by the Bethlehem Steel Corp. from 1959-1967 as a shipping and office clerk in the Cold Strip Mill and Galvanized Mill in Lackawanna.

Mike studied at Millard Fillmore College before transferring to Buffalo State College, and received his BS in Elementary Education. In 1969, he began teaching in the Iroquois Central School District. Mike taught fifth and sixth grades in Room 12 at Marilla Elementary. He enjoyed not only his everyday teaching duties, but introducing students to woodworking, stamp collecting, and many more project-based learning activities. Mike obtained an MS in Education from BSC and an MA in English Literature from Canisius College. He retired from teaching in 1990. Mike was a lifelong learner. He believed in the power of an education, reading and learning new things, and traveling to experience new places, new cultures, and new ideas. Mike and his late wife Barbara made numerous trips to Europe, the Caribbean, Africa, and Antarctica. He was well read in Byzantine, Medieval, and Spanish Civil War history; enjoyed classical music, bird watching, gardening, caring for trees, and taking daily walks with his dogs, Bear and Pal. Mike was a member of St. Stephen's Serbian Orthodox Church in Lackawanna, having taught Sunday school for 17 years. He served on the church Library Committee, spending countless hours categorizing the church's vast collection of texts. Mike belonged to Ancient Landmarks Lodge, #348 F&AM. While living in the town of Bennington, he was a member of their Planning Board from 1986-1997, and served on the town's former Solid Waste and Recycling Committee.

During his retirement, Mike was an active member of the Eastern Erie Retired Teachers Association, serving as its publicity person for twenty years. He was very active with the Steel Plant Museum of WNY, serving as Membership Chair, Newsletter Editor, Secretary/Executive Secretary Treasurer, and Museum Director. Mike was an incorporator for the SPM's charter application to the State Education Department, and a volunteer researcher for the Lackawanna Public Library, being an expert in local history. Mike chose to donate his body to the Anatomical Gift Program at the University of Buffalo, one last example of his passion for education. Mike's family will receive friends from 1-4 p.m., with a Pomen service at 3:30 p.m. on Sat., Oct. 3, 2026, at Colonial Chapel, 3003 South Park Ave., Lackawanna. Flowers are gratefully declined. Donations may be made to St. Stephen's Serbian Orthodox Church in Lackawanna, the Lackawanna Public Library, or the Steel Plant Museum of WNY.