Born in Perth Amboy, NJ, on June 27, 1932, to Joseph and Amelia Malinowski, Dr. Mallin attended Holy Trinity School and Perth Amboy High School, where he was enrolled in the National Honor Society and later inducted into the Hall of Fame. In 1956, he was graduated from Temple University Dental School, having been elected to Omicron Kappa Epsilon, dentistry's highest honor, and to the John A. Kollmar Honorary Medical Society and the John Cameron Society of Oral Surgery.

In 1955, he married his life-long love and high school sweetheart, Giovanna V. Magro, who was born in Florence, Italy, in 1932, and emigrated to the United States at age six. They spent two years at Maryland's Patuxent River Naval Center, where he served as a lieutenant in the Naval Dental Corps. Thereafter, he opened an office at 69 Amboy Ave., Metuchen, NJ, later moving to 35 Amboy Ave., where he practiced for over 40 years.

A dental pioneer, Dr. Mallin authored chapters in dental texts and published in professional journals, including the ADA Journal, lectured nationally and internationally, and held a Lectureship at the University of Pittsburgh Dental School. President and founder of the NJ Academy of General Dentistry, founder and president of the NJ Dental Research Group, and president of the Middlesex County Dental Society, Dr. Mallin led a movement that made significant contributions to the advancement of dental health in the US. He served on the Metuchen Board of Education and on the Executive Board of the Metuchen YMCA. Dr. Mallin was also a certified financial planner and a certified gemologist. His other interests included real estate development and consulting for dental professionals. He was an avid runner and swimmer, and he traveled extensively.

Those who knew Bob also knew that beyond his professional success he was most proud of his role as a husband, father, grandfather, relative and friend. For Dr. Mallin no one was more important than his wife, Giovanna, and his children, Robert Jr. and Cynthia. He would move heaven and earth to give them the opportunity to advance their lives and to bring them true happiness. He also deeply loved James Entwistle, his son-in-law, and his grandchildren Samantha and Conner James, all of whom provided him with so much love, for which he was always grateful. He also had the highest regard and love for his sister, Elaine. He is survived by his in-laws Alice and Albert Magro, Edward Seaman, and Santi Buscemi.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, October 15, 2016, at 11:30 am at St. Luke Parish, 265 West Mill Road, Long Valley, NJ.

In lieu of flowers, a donation to the Lupus Foundation would be greatly appreciated. Log onto www.lupus.org/intribute and search tributes for Dr. Robert J. Mallin.