Every Student Has a Story: Paul Moloney '27

Paul Moloney III '27 tried to get his dad to play League of Legends once, but Paul Moloney Jr. told him, "That's not my world." "But," said the younger Moloney years later, "he knew I played and he knew I was decent. And he was with me on that stage."

When September 11 came around every year, Moloney III and his siblings knew to give their dad some space. In fact, they never talked about that day, except for once, and Moloney remembers seeing the anguish on his dad's face. So Moloney doesn't know the story firsthand from his dad, but this is what he does know:

His dad, who grew up in the Bronx and would become one of New York City's Finest, had just finished working the night shift on the morning of September 11, 2001. He got home, took his boots off, turned on the TV and saw that a plane had just struck the North Tower. He quickly put his boots back on and ran out the door. He was gone for almost three days.

Paul Moloney Jr. soon developed health problems caused by the toxins he inhaled at Ground Zero. He retired soon after 9/11, right around the time his lung collapsed, and years later, as he struggled to breathe the cold New York air, he moved his family moved to South Carolina.

Moloney III spent some of his childhood in Washingtonville, NY, near Newburgh, but considers the South Carolina coast home. However, he always planned to come back to New York for college. Moloney and his siblings are all eligible for the World Trade Center Memorial Scholarship which covers tuition at New York colleges and universities for spouses and dependents of "innocent victims who died or were severely and permanently disabled as a result of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks." Moloney Jr.'s three older sisters all attended Pace. But Moloney Jr. decided to carve his own path after taking a tour of Siena.

"I came in April and the campus looked absolutely fantastic. Honestly, it looked like it should be in a movie."

The computer science major made the Esports League of Legends team as a freshman, and his dad made the trip to the MAAC Championships. Siena lost in the first round, but Moloney's dad was there when he came off the stage.

"During the match, my sister would tell him when to cheer. He wasn't sure what he was watching, but he told me I did a really good job. I didn't. I was piss poor. But he was all fired up and excited about it."

That was the last time Moloney Jr. watched his son play in person. The former NYC police officer died last fall from colon cancer, which had spread to his lungs. On 9/11, 2,753 people were killed in New York City; 4,300 first responders and survivors have died since from 9/11-related illnesses caused by toxic exposures.

"During that match against Iona, I did ask my dad for strength while I was on stage. I felt his presence in that game. It was like he was there."

When Moloney III was a kid, he played a video game called BioShock. Near the end, you must choose whether you want to be the good guy or the bad guy. Moloney III chose to be the good guy and that choice was rewarded. Moloney III believes games can teach kids lessons of right and wrong. Game developers build worlds and have the power to influence ideals. Maloney III wants to create games someday to teach kids to be the good guys. It's the lesson he learned from his dad.