MU grad student remembered fondly

By Jedd Rosche

Published Sept. 25, 2007

Coach JR Fernandes has kept a picture on his refrigerator for more than five years.

The photo shows his team, the Theodore Roosevelt High School Girls Soccer team in Des Moines, Iowa, carrying its own soccer goal from one side of the field to another.

In the picture, Meggie Malm was leading her teammates, and Fernandes said he remembers that day clearly.

"Some girls complained," Fernandes said. "With her, it was different. She was one of the first kids to say 'Come on girls, let's do this.' That kind of personality, she was so sweet and so kind, but so tough and secure."

Throughout her life, Ms. Malm continually wowed coaches, teammates, classmates, teachers and advisers with her positive attitude, diligent work ethic and unbiased generosity.

Margaret Alexandra "Meggie" Malm died Thursday from injuries sustained from a car accident in Des Moines.

Funeral services were held Monday morning at Trinity Lutheran Church, also in Des Moines.

Ms. Malm was a business student in the MU Crosby MBA program. She graduated in May from the MU College of Engineering summa cum laude with a bachelor's degree in industrial and mechanical engineering.

Ms. Malm was born June 18, 1985 in Des Moines.

Fernandes had coached Ms. Malm "since she was a little kid" and followed her progress from her younger club soccer days into high school, where she helped look after younger players.

"Meggie wasn't just a great soccer player," Fernandes said. "She was a leader, a very quiet leader. She didn't have to stick to people to look up to her. She was very generous and very kind."

With Fernandes, Meggie went to all-state soccer competitions all four years of high school.

But she never let soccer interfere with her studies. Ms. Malm graduated as the valedictorian of her high school and was a member of National Honor Society.

At MU, she also excelled in academia and athletics. She was one of few women in her engineering program and hit the field as a defender/midfielder all four years for the MU women's soccer team.

"Meggie was the ultimate teammate who embodied everything good about life through her character, spirit and heart," MU soccer coach Bryan Blitz stated in a news release Thursday. "Her family was such a big part of the Mizzou family and our thoughts and prayers go out to them."

Members of the Mystical Seven honor society noticed Ms. Malm's community involvement and inducted her as member on Tap Day in April 2006, during her junior year.

MU Residential Life Director and Mystical Seven adviser Frankie Minor said Ms. Malm was a passionate student, who was more "behind the scenes," which met the organization's strict requirements.

Members of her Mystical Seven class said they appreciated her humility. One of those class members, Maggie Meyer, said when Ms. Malm was inducted, she reacted modestly.

"When the seven of us first met and introduced ourselves to one another, I remember Meg telling us that she didn't know why she had been selected for this honor, that she didn't feel she deserved it," Meyer said. "That was one of the most remarkable things about Meg. Despite everything she did and accomplished, whether it was as captain of the Mizzou soccer team, as a volunteer and leader in her community or as an incredible student, she was one of the most humble people I have ever met."

During her senior year, Ms. Malm was also one of the Mizzou '39, a group of 39 seniors chosen by a special committee of faculty, students and staff for their academic performance, leadership and community involvement.

"Meg was such an outgoing person who excelled at everything she did," said Dane Barker, a graduate student who was in the same MBA program as Ms. Malm. "I am honored to have known her. She lived her life to the fullest and made everyone around her want to be better."

Ms. Malm is survived by her parents, Richard and Robbie Malm, her brother Jonathan and his wife Maggie Malm, her sister Kathryn and her fiancé Nate Cloe, her maternal grandmother, Robertine Gatchel, and paternal grandmother, Darlene Malm.

Memorial contributions may be left to the Theodore Roosevelt High School Foundation in Des Moines.