Robert P. Mallon

Obituary Robert Patrick Mallon (Bob/RPM) died August 3, 2017. He spent his last hours surrounded by his dear wife Rita and her family, his children Margaret Mary (Peggy) and Tim, Tim's wife Rita Mae, grandson Jesse and other loving family and close friends. A sweet moment at his bedside was the soft singing of "Danny Boy". Bob was born August 23, 1933. He grew up in South Tacoma and attended Visitation and Holy Rosary Schools. He graduated from St. Martin's High School in 1951 and the University of Notre Dame in 1955. Following service in the Army, he returned to Tacoma and began a distinguished career as a Ford dealer. His work in the automotive industry grew into leadership positions in both the Washington State and National Automobile Dealers Associations. He was committed to his family and friends, his Catholic faith, and his local and national communities. He served in leadership roles on boards at St. Joseph Hospital, St. Martin's University, Rotary International, the Pierce County United Way and Better Business Bureau, and many other church and community projects. He was the founder and Chairman for many years of the National Automobile Dealers Charitable Foundation whose Ambassador program continues to grow and touch many lives throughout the country. He received two Honorary Doctorate Degrees, in Law from Campbell University in North Carolina and Humane Letters from St. Martin's University in Lacey. RPM was, as the Irish say, "a man you don't meet every day." He was a gifted and energetic public speaker and storyteller. He had a way of getting to know people quickly and always remembering their names and making even casual encounters personal. Following his wife Rosemary's death in 2011 and his first bout with cancer, Bob found another love in life and married Rita Sommer Ringmann in 2013. Their shared love and sense of miracle in finding each other made his last years and even his final struggle with cancer a blessing. Along with Rosemary, Bob was preceded in death by his sister Ann Adele, niece, Ann Marie Rome, brother, Thomas, Jr. and his beloved parents Tommy Mallon and Ann Rigney Mallon. Bob is survived by his wife, Rita Sommer Mallon; children, Margaret Mary (Jim Fritz), Tim (Rita Nygaard); grandson Jesse Nygaard-Mallon and niece Mary Eileen Blair. The family will hold a private rosary. Viewing will be held at Gaffney Funeral Home on Thursday, August 10th from 10:00am - 1:30pm. Funeral Mass will be celebrated August 11, 2017, 11:00 AM at St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Church, 5715 108th St. SW, Lakewood, WA 98499. Flowers can be sent to the church. Interment at Calvary Cemetery. Memorial contributions "In honor of Robert P. Mallon" can be made to Franciscan Foundation ( Franciscan Hospice and St. Joseph Medical Center), Tacoma, WA; or St. Martin's University, Lacey, WA; or the NADA Foundation's Robert P. Mallon Ambassadors Program. Arrangements by Gaffney Funeral Home