BIDDEFORD — Roland O. Malo died June 5, at Southern Maine Medical Center.

Roland was born born Jan. 23, 1923, to Felix and Eva (Beaudoin) Malo in Lewiston. Roland was an extremely hard and dedicated worker. At the age of 14, he worked with his father and grandfather, Louis Malo, owner and head contractor of Malo Masonry. The business was responsible for the construction and mason work on the Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul and many other churches in the Lewiston-Auburn area as well as buildings on the Bates College campus, as well as many buildings at the University of Maine in Orono.

Roland became a welder at Bath Iron Works in 1941 during World War II and remained employed throughout the war. While employed at BIW, he met the love of his life, Edith A. Malo (Grenier). They were married on June 30, 1947, and would have celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary later this month. He was very devoted to his faith.

He began working at local shoe factories in Lewiston in the late 1940s as a hand stitcher and retired from this career in 1988 at the age of 65.

Throughout his life, Roland was an avid baseball fan and one his most proudest accomplishments in the late 1950s and early 1960s was being responsible for the creation of the Auburn Little League organization. In addition to assisting in it’s creation, Roland was an active coach with his favorite phrase being “hustle, hustle.” The fact that his oldest son, Ronald was a participant as the team bat boy, made him extremely proud.

During his retirement, he was able to enjoy traveling to Europe with his wife and some of her sisters. Additionally, he traveled to other New England states and wintered in Florida, for 10 years prior to his death.

He began to express a passion through art and painting. He was an avid gardener. He loved bird watching. However, dearest to his heart was his family and he was adored by all.

He is survived by Edith, his wife of 65 years; his son, Ronald Malo and his wife, Carol; his daughter, Claire (Malo) Bureau and her husband, Mark; his son, David Malo and his wife, Cindy; his grandchildren, Michelle Malo, Lee Caron-Tremblay and her husband, Larry, Brian Malo and his wife, Amanda, Joshua Malo and Alicia Malo and her fiance, Tyler Sawyer; four great-grandchildren, Sarah, Grace and Andrew Malo and Jenna Tremblay; and several nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his parents; eight brothers and sisters; as well as two children, Raymond Malo, who died as an infant and Stella Malo, who died in 2011.

Online condolences may be shared at www.thefortingrouplewiston.com.