N'afọ 1944, a mụrụ Seán Patrick O'Malley dị ka Patrick O'Malley na June 29, na Lakewood, Ohio, nwa nwoke nke Theodore na Mary Louise (née Reidy) O'Malley. Nne na nna ya bụ ndị Irish. O'Malley, nwanne ya nwanyị, na nwanne ya nwoke toro na South Hills nke Pittsburgh, na Reading, Pennsylvania. Mgbe ọ dị afọ 12, ọ banyere St. Fidelis Minor Seminary na Herman, ụlọ akwụkwọ maka ụmụ akwụkwọ ndị na-atụle ịbanye na Franciscan. Mgbe ọ nọ ebe ahụ, na mgbakwunye na ịmụ ihe ọmụmụ ụlọ akwụkwọ sekọndrị nkịtị, ọ mụkwara Spanish, Portuguese, Greek, German, na Hibru, ebe ọ na-arụkwa ọrụ na ihe nkiri. Ajụjụ: Mgbe a mụrụ Sean Patrick O'Malley?
June 29, 1944