Polly Malcolm
June 29, 1932 – October 7, 2026
Olive Mary Louise Goldman was born in Urbana, Illinois on June 29, 1932. Despite the
on-going US economy depression, her childhood was cheerful and rich in experiences
as the youngest of four children of Olive and Marcus Goldman. Polly got this nickname
from her grandmother, Banche Remington. The family was active in the Episcopal
Church, and in 1942 started spending Julys at Llewellyn Beach in western Ontario, a
retreat for ministers and family members. Polly loved the rivers of Illinois and would go
fishing with her brother, Charles.
The three girls, Agnes, Marcia and Polly all attended Kemper Hall, an Episcopal
boarding school in Kenosha, Wisconsin where Polly took the religion prize for the essay
“Why Church Schools? my Evidence,” and was the yearbook editor. The three also
graduated from Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, New York. Polly’s sister Agnes
introduced her to John Malcolm, best friend of Jack Burke; Polly and John were married
in 1954 in New Jersey, hosted by her grandmother, Blanche.
Polly and John settled in New York City as the family grew to include four children,
George, Katharine, Barbara and Charles. She enjoyed the vibrancy of the city and had
many close friends with children. She organized family trips to the cottage in Canada
and day trips to visit John’s parents in Bronxville, NY.
When John had an opportunity to move to suburban Boston, Polly orchestrated the
move to Newton, MA. She was very active at Church of the Good Shepherd, including
alter guild and event leadership. She sought new means for social action and enrolled
in law school. At the time the four children were in public school, ages 6 - 15. After her
first year, Polly became New England School of Law’s first part-time student. She took
the trolly in and out of Boston and discussed interesting cases with the children. Polly
passed the Massachusetts Bar exam on the first try.
In 1975 Polly moved the family to Norwell, MA, to be closer to John’s medical practice at
South Shore Hospital. In Norwell, Polly had large gardens surrounding an antique
home. Her law practice was focused on family topics and wills. John retired from
medicine in 1985, together they decided to return to city living and moved to Cambridge,
MA. Polly joined the hospice program as a volunteer and helped people communicate
their last requests.
Polly and John found time to travel together to every corner of the world. She loved
travel and developed an understanding of structural poverty and depravation from
failures of government, lack of education, climate change and religious persecution.
She traveled independently and with friends to Cuba, Palestine and Jordan to witness
and write about social issues and opportunities for aid.
When Polly joined an organization, she was very present and very loyal. At Christ
Church, she attended services weekly and served in nearly every volunteer capacity.
She volunteered at The Cambridge Homes leading play-reading for decades before
moving there in 2025. Polly was active with Harvard Neighbors and their quilting bee.
Between 1986 and 2026 she designed and made dozens of quilts giving these to her
children, siblings, grandchildren and to Church auctions.
Polly was an activist…. She walked annually collecting donations for the Walk for
Hunger for more than 30 years. In recent months Polly would get up early to pray with
the Brothers of St. John the Evangelist; in the afternoon she would be holding a protest
sign on the corner of Mt. Auburn Street advocating for democracy, rule of law, or
protection of those who are most vulnerable. On Mondays she cooked for “Youth on
Fire” and Wednesdays she protested the ICE detentions of immigrants, holding a sign,
and sitting by the curb in her folding chair.
On the last morning there was a stack of 1,000 postcards on her desk, ready to mail,
and a list of additional Ohio voters to rally in support of Sharrod Brown. These are just a
sample of more than 10,000 Get Out the VOTE! postcards she and her friends
produced over the last 5 years.
Polly's superpower was hope, optimism, and seeing the good in all of us. It was rooted
in her deep religious belief that we have a responsibility to love our neighbor, act with
humanity, act with humility, care for this beautiful earth, and, when we have the means,
share it with others.
Polly was predeceased by John Malcolm in 2014. She is survived by her four children,
George, Katharine, Barbara, and Charles; her five grandchildren, Olive, Joseph, John,
Patterson, and Victoria, and her great-grandson, Simon.
In memory of Polly please be active and not passive; this world needs you. She made
donations during her life to these organizations which carry her conviction to care for
others:
• World Central Kitchen
• Monastery of St John the Evangelist, Cambridge
• Christ Church Cambridge, Social Outreach Committee
• Feed the Children
• WGBH Public Television
• United Negro College Fund
• American Indian College Fund