Robert S. Malek

Robert S. Malek, July 1, 1938 - November 20, 2019 On July 1, 1938, Bob entered the world in Pittsburgh, PA, the son of Walter and Julia Jelinski Malek, the sixth of seven children. He was a kind hearted and gentle soul who loved exercise, music, coffee shops, and especially his family, friends, and pets. He was a natural born athlete and excelled in every sport available to him from football on the streets of Pittsburgh and basketball in his church’s gymnasium as a child, boxing in the Navy, golfing with his friends from work, running on the Raleigh Greenway and in half marathons in locations around North Carolina. Bob was an avid cyclist and rode in a number of week-long group rides across NC and NY. He loved to laugh and be silly, and he spent many hours reading. He was often told that his dedication to exercise inspired them to improve their own lifestyle. Bob had been an altar boy and as a youth played the trumpet at funerals. He had a beautiful voice and enjoyed calling friends and family members on their birthdays and, sounding much like Elvis, sang “Happy Birthday” to them. He had a talent for playing the harmonica to the pleasure of all within earshot. Bob enjoyed dancing. His aunt taught him to ballroom dance when he was young, telling him that he would be a hit with the girls (she was right), and he later learned to country two-step and do the Carolina shag. Enlisting in the Navy at 17, Bob was able to travel the world as a gunners mate. He figured that if he ever had to shoot during combat, he would be too far away to have to see the victims. Unfortunately, the practice rounds damaged his hearing, a condition that plagued him for rest of his life. He spent his first year on the USS Iowa and was stationed in Norfolk. During that time he benefitted from the compassionate leadership of the ship officers who had served during WWII. When the USS Iowa was decommissioned, he was transferred to the USS Boston and was stationed in NYC until he was honorably discharged with a good conduct medal. Returning to Pittsburgh, Bob took advantage of the GI Bill and earned a degree in electrical engineering. He married Patty Lucero and they became the proud parents of two daughters, Michelle and Lisa. They moved their family to Rochester, NY, when Bob was hired by an upstart company which was soon to become Xerox. He rode his bike to work every day. He was very involved with a youth group and coached basketball. Years later the marriage ended, Bob left Xerox, remarried, and moved to Raleigh. Bob and Mary Dee enjoyed years of good times together along with her sons, Craig and Warren Phillips. Bob was employed by Gray & Creech Office Equipment and Supply Company in Raleigh as service manager. His years there were very happy and he made many friends. Until the end of Bob’s life, all anyone had to do to make him laugh was to say the name of his favorite former co-worker, Johnny Stancil. Bob’s marriage later ended, Gray & Creech was sold, and he became the service manager at Carolina Office and Equipment Company (“Coeco”), where he had another wonderful group of co-workers. Bob married Gini Soiset Dunlap of Chapel Hill in 1997, made their home in Raleigh, and he retired from COECO in 2004. He made the most of his retirement years by spending his time doing what he loved most: running, kayaking, bicycling, dancing, walking his dog, working out in gyms, singing, playing the harmonica, reading, watching old movies on TV, visiting family, and joining friends at social gatherings. Sadly, an Alzheimer’s type illness interfered with his ability to continue. He spent four years under hospice care at Mayview Nursing Home in Raleigh and had recently been transferred to the NC State Veteran's Nursing Home in Fayetteville, NC. Bob is now at peace following his courageous battle with a terrible disease. Special thanks go to our good friend Shirley Jenkins and to Transitions LifeCare and Hospice of Wake County, the Mayview staff, as well as the hospice and staff members of the NC Vets’ Nursing Home, who all provided much loving care to Bob during his long illness. In addition to his parents, Bob was preceded in death by his brothers, Walt, Richard, Gilbert, and Dave Malek; his granddaughter, Elise Erb Hernandez; son-in-law, Pat Erb; brother-in-law, Ronald Walsh; step-grandson, Ryan Moss; and former spouse, Patty Lucero-Malek. Bob is survived by his wife, Gini, of the home; daughters, Michelle Acito (Marc) of Red Lion, PA, and Lisa Malek (Joseph Cavallaro) of Rochester, NY; sisters, Shirley Angelo (Joe) of Indiana, PA, and Lois Walsh of Webster, NY; sisters-in-law Virginia Malek of Hayward, CA, and Helen Malek of Pittsburgh; brothers-in-law, Bill Soiset of Matthews, NC, and Roger Soiset (Nancy) of Grayson, GA; stepchildren, Karen Dunlap Moss (Cliff) of Angier, NC, and Craige Dunlap of Chapel Hill. Also surviving are nine grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, two step-grandchildren as well as many nieces and nephews and extended family members. In lieu of flowers, donations in Bob’s memory would be appreciated at Transitions LifeCare, 250 Hospice Circle, Raleigh NC 27607 or a pet rescue or other charity of your choice.