Mr. Nicholas J. Maiale, an award-winning Alumni Fellow at Penn State Abington, attorney, and a former member of the Pennsylvania General Assembly, passed away on Saturday, July 5. He was 73.
During his time as a student at Penn State Abington, Mr. Maiale served as president of the Student Government Association and received the Eric A. and Josephine S. Walker Award for exemplary character, academics and contributions to the University, his obituary in Penn State Abington’s website said.
“Abington was transformative for me, like a launching pad, and where I got involved in politics and government,” he said in a previous interview.
Mr. Maiale went on to earn a law degree from Temple University in 1976 and established a high-profile law firm in Philadelphia. He was elected to the Pennsylvania General Assembly in 1980 and was re-elected for consecutive terms through 1992.
At Abington, he served on the advisory board and as the campus chair for the University’s “Grand Destiny” campaign. Campus leadership recognized him as its outstanding alumnus in 1982 and distinguished alumnus in 1998.
“Nick Maiale understood the influential role philanthropy plays in advancing Abington, and he set a powerful and compelling example through his generosity. He will be deeply missed, but his spirit will live on through our students who benefit from his support,” Gary Liguori, Abington’s chancellor, said.
More from his obituary:
His giving to Abington was the result of many conversations with Chancellor Emerita Karen Wiley Sandler. A thoughtful and focused philanthropic partner, Maiale believed in the importance of unrestricted funds that chancellors could use at their discretion, thus initiating the Penn State Abington College Endowment Fund. He also endowed Abington’s first fund for students with disabilities as well as providing endowed scholarships and an internship fund.
At a ceremony in 2024, the Nick Maiale Student Government and Leadership Room in the Lares Building at Abington was named for him. He also received the Donor Appreciation Award, which recognizes a onetime Abington student whose philanthropic investments on campus have created a lasting impact on current Abington students.
Maiale’s support was recognized by his inclusion in the Atherton Society, the President’s Club and the Mount Nittany Society, all of which celebrate donors to the University.
In 2001, he was named an Alumni Fellow, the most prestigious award bestowed by the Penn State Alumni Association. Alumni Fellows are leaders in their professional fields who accept an invitation from the president of the University to return to campus to share their expertise with students, faculty and administrators.
In 2017, Maiale received the Distinguished Alumni Award, the highest honor bestowed by the Penn State Board of Trustees upon an outstanding graduate. The award salutes the achievements of alumni whose personal lives, professional achievements and community service exemplify the objectives of the University.
In addition to his advocacy for Penn State, Maiale served as finance chairman of the Delaware Valley Multiple Sclerosis Society, which inducted him into its Volunteer Hall of Fame for his fundraising initiatives. He was the recipient of many honors, including the Blair Thompson Lifetime Venture Award from the Greater Philadelphia Venture Group in 2000.
Relatives and friends are invited to his VIEWING Monday July 14, 2025 9:30AM to 10:30AM at the Church of St. Richard, 18th & Pollock Sts. Followed by his Funeral Mass at 10:30AM. INT. will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, family requests that contributions be made to The National Multiple Sclerosis Society Greater Delaware Valley Chapter, 30 South 17th Street, Suite 800, Philadelphia PA 19103.
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Photo: PSU Abington