Jean Malizia

Jean Malizia, 93, of Los Osos, Calif., (formerly of Spring Valley), passed away on May 15, 2023. Jean was born on June 8, 1929, to Henry and Grace Olson, and spent her childhood in Ostrander before moving to Spring Valley, where she graduated high school in 1946. She attended Luther College and later graduated from Winona State and became a remedial reading teacher in Spring Valley. On April 12, 1953, she married Ernie Malizia. They remained in Spring Valley and raised their three children there until Ernie’s death in 1975. Jean continued her education in 1970 at the University of Missouri-Columbia, where she became a member of the first class in the country to earn a master’s degree in special education (learning disabilities). She went on to start the learning disabilities program in Rochester. When she retired, she had trained over 50 LD teachers for the district and helped countless students learn to read. 

Jean is survived by her three children: William of Berthoud, Colo., Dean (Lynne) of Craig, Colo., and Joann of Los Osos, Calif.; and two grandchildren, Travis and Nick. 

She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Robert and husband Ernest. 

Jean had a great love of reading books (several each week), crossword puzzles and spending time with her family. The last few years of her life she loved going on drives along the ocean with her daughter Jo and grandson Nick. She led a very full life and all who knew her were blessed.