When Ed Mally, W’83, PAR’13, PAR’15, met his future wife Julia Lang Mally, W’83, PAR’13, PAR’15, through his roommate at Penn’s new student week in 1979, he had no idea his life would be forever transformed.
“The admissions committee and housing office turned out to be the greatest matchmakers of all time,” said Mally.
As prolific Penn supporters, the Mallys found meaning in giving back to a place that provided them with a lifetime of love and laughter. A member of the Penn Players while an undergraduate, Julia became a musical theater aficionado after college. In the years following their time at Penn, Ed and Julia attended countless theatrical performances in New York, Philadelphia, and locally in Westport, Conn.
After a valiant eight-year battle with breast cancer, Julia passed away in 2018. When an opportunity arose to name the Annenberg Center’s stage, Ed, along with his family and friends, felt it was the perfect way to honor Julia’s memory and legacy. In January 2020, the Julia Lang Mally W’83 Stage of the Harold L. Zellerbach Theatre was officially dedicated.
“Julia loved that the performing arts help to forge ties between Penn and Philadelphia,” said Ed Mally. “The gift of lifetime status as Penn alumni comes with the responsibility to give back.”
Over the past 40 years, Penn has been central to many things that the Mallys have loved. They formed life-long friendships and experienced the thrill of both of their sons, Adam, ENG’13, GEN’14, GR’25, and David Mally, ENG’15, GEN’16, attending the University. Julia gave her time as a Penn Alumni interview volunteer. The couple were deeply involved at the Penn Libraries, with Ed serving as a board member for nearly 14 years, and on class reunion committees. “Penn has been a big part of what has defined our lives,” said Mally.
With the Julia Lang Mally W’83 Stage front and center, performing arts at Penn is thriving in the 2020–21 academic year, reaching living rooms around the world through the power of virtual programming.
