In Loving Memory of Dr. Diana Malchoff P’07: Beloved Teacher, Mentor, Colleague, and Friend

Dr. Diana ‘Doc’ Malchoff P’07, a cherished member of the Avon Old Farms community, passed away peacefully on April 5, 2025, surrounded by her family after a courageous battle with cancer. 

Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Dr. Malchoff’s academic journey was a testament to her intelligence and dedication: she graduated from Cardinal O’Hara High School in 1968, earned her B.A. in chemistry from Villanova University in 1972, and completed her Ph.D. in biochemistry at the University of Rochester in 1978. After postdoctoral work at the University of Virginia, she joined the faculty at UConn Health, where she became a pioneering researcher in DNA sequencing. Yet, her most fulfilling professional chapter began when she transitioned from the lab to the classroom.

In 2005, Dr. Malchoff joined Avon Old Farms School as chair of the science department. At the time, her son Brian ’07 was a day student from West Hartford. Brian shares that he was proud to have his mom join him at Avon, and despite being a teenage boy didn’t worry about her invading his space within the school he had come to love. “I think mom wanted to become a teacher because she wanted to help others, and I think she really thrived on the challenge of leading an all-boys classroom. I was excited—proud—to share my school with her.”

Known for her rigor and intellect, she challenged students in honors and AP chemistry and biology courses, building not only their scientific understanding but also their character. “While I never had my mom as a teacher, I’ve heard that we have a very similar teaching style. I think that’s because mom treated her students like her kids: she drew a pretty hard line but was always in full support of her students, doing her part to push them to reach their full potential.”

For Brendan Reed ’06, Dr. Malchoff’s entry into the classroom came just in the knick of time. “I was a senior by then, and I only had her for AP Biology. It was an intimate group of maybe five or six, and it was a bit of a misfit crew, with varied interests. I’m not sure if this was her approach for her entire teaching career, but with us, she truly brought the lab experience from her life as a researcher to Avon Old Farms. She brought light and life to her lessons, and the novelty of what she taught us stuck with me all the way through my Ph.D. work.” Brendan, now an immunologist, credits Dr. Malchoff with his life’s work, saying “Before her, I thought biology was only applicable if you were going pre-med. She taught us that you can go and make the discoveries, you don’t have to prescribe the medicine. When she was upset with us, it was never about a bad grade, but a lack of curiosity. In a society that has learned to go with the flow, she taught us to challenge dogma and question everything.”

While not every student remembers the gas laws, all remember the life lessons she taught—lessons about hard work, resilience, integrity, and compassion. In 2018, her excellence in teaching was formally recognized when she received the Cashion Faculty Award, one of the school’s highest honors. She retired in 2020 but left behind a lasting legacy that still reverberates in our community. Her husband, Carl, shares that she remained at Avon until her retirement because of the respect and support she always felt coming from her colleagues. “From Ken LaRocque and John Gardner as leaders, to Jim Detora when he took on the head of school role, right on down the entire chain faculty and staff, Diana always felt like the community was supportive of her work. Each interaction she had on campus made her Avon experience a rewarding one.”

Perhaps the most profound tribute to her impact comes from the students who continued to seek her counsel long after graduation. Dr. Malchoff was the kind of teacher who stayed with you—who believed in you even when you struggled to believe in yourself.

Alumnus Frank Qian ’16 recalls her mentorship with gratitude: “Doc was the best of both a strict mom who always pushed you to be your best and a caring, supportive grandma who had your back no matter what.” Whether encouraging him to recover from a bad grade or to navigate difficult leadership moments in the robotics club, Dr. Malchoff offered wisdom rooted in lived experience and deep care.

Frank also attributes the success of some of his enduring friendships to Dr. Malchoff’s mentorship. Last fall, that group made a trip to visit her at home. “Doc was the team mom to founding members of the robotics club. There were some strong personalities on that team, and there were a lot of fights. One day I said ‘I am done’ and slammed the door as I left the forge. It was Doc who emailed me and asked me to come by her office. I was frustrated, but it was that talk and subsequent others that helped me learn how to be a more effective leader. This was before Prep4ward or Mr. Detora’s leadership class, so Doc stepping in to guide me was crucial to our success as a team.” 

For Tamas Takata ’15, a former advisee, Dr. Malchoff was not only a trusted academic mentor but a second family. He recalls how Monday morning advisee check-ins before Morning Meeting and enrichment hours quickly developed into a stronger friendship, sharing how his family was often invited to dessert with the Malchoffs after Thanksgiving or Christmas dinners, and often remained at the Malchoff home well into the night socializing. 

When asked to describe Doc for those who didn’t know her, Tamas chose three words: honest, reliable, and compassionate. “I think those three words might get thrown around more often than they should. When I say Doc was honest, I really mean it. She didn’t ever tell you what you wanted to hear, but rather what you needed to hear. She always had your best interest at heart, and very deeply cared about your path in life. She was a different lady. She was unique. I never felt such care and support from any other teacher in my life. Even as a 13-year-old, Doc was a breath of fresh air. Her absence will be felt for a long time.”

Alumnus Sean Park ’06 agrees. “When I learned of her passing, I was heartbroken. As a young Korean student struggling to find my way in American life, Mrs. Malchoff truly was my guiding light. I felt like she was reading me like an open book, even when I hadn’t vocalized any of my concerns, struggles, or questions. She voiced them for me, and in doing so, made me feel seen. As a teenage boy struggling with adjusting to a new culture, being seen and understood meant more than she’ll ever know. I didn’t get to say it, but I hope Mama Malchoff, as she always signed her emails, knows that I love her. To me, she was never just a teacher, but a wonderful friend.”

Her own words, shared during a memorable faculty Chapel Talk, revealed the heart behind the intellect. She spoke openly about her lifelong struggle with perfectionism, describing how she once wore a metaphorical mask to be accepted: “The mask was the version of me that I wanted everyone else to see—the version I thought everyone wanted to see.” Her story of emotional exhaustion and eventual healing was a gift to the community, especially to those still finding their voice. “You do not have to be perfect to be worthy of love,” she told her students. “You already are.”

Dr. Malchoff’s connection with her students extended beyond the classroom. Her daughter Melisa said, “Mom loved being a part of Avon. She loved sharing her culture with the students—she was the Asian mom on campus. The students she invited for holiday meals, we knew their stories long after they graduated from Avon Old Farms. She was so proud of the boys.”

Outside of Avon, Dr. Malchoff led a full and joyful life. She met her husband, Dr. Carl Malchoff P’07, at the University of Rochester. Married in 1976, they raised three children—Melisa, Pamela, and Brian—and welcomed four beloved grandchildren. She was a brilliant scientist, a New York Times crossword enthusiast (always in ink), a talented cook and baker, and a devoted family matriarch.

A celebration of Dr. Malchoff’s life will be held at the Avon Old Farms School Chapel on Saturday, May 31, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in her memory to Avon Old Farms School or Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.

Dr. Malchoff’s life was defined by service—through science, through teaching, and through love. Her students, colleagues, and friends carry forward her message: You are enough. Show up as your whole self. That is where your strength lies.

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