Judith Mallo Gilbert

Judith Mallo Gilbert was born on January 20, 1933, in Cleveland, Ohio to her loving parents, David and Otillie Mallo. She lived her very full life in the Cleveland area, raising her daughter in North Olmsted before moving to Westlake, then North Ridgeville, and finally, Avon, where she spent the past 8.5 years. Judith, known to all as Judy, died peacefully on Dec. 9, 2023, at the age of 90. Judy graduated from Rhodes High School in Cleveland, OH, in 1951 and Fenn College in 1955, with a degree in Bachelor of Business Administration and Marketing. Soon after graduation, she went to work as a teller at National City Bank. She then worked as a senior market analyst at Watts, Lee & Kenyon Advertising and Meldrum and Fewsmith Advertising. She then moved to Virden Lighting Company where she was their advertising manager. She met her husband Robert (Bob) Gilbert through mutual friends, and they were married on December 10, 1971. In October of 1972, their daughter Heather was born, and Judy took on a new role: mother. While raising Heather, Judy also became a community volunteer. Her volunteer work was a strong point of pride for her. For 30 years she served on the Fairview Hospital Auxiliary Board and volunteered in the flower shop. She was also an active member of John Knox Presbyterian Church, the League of Women Voters, and was a yearly election poll worker. She volunteered at Porter Public Library, where she loved seeing friends and acquaintances stop by, and at the North Ridgeville Food Bank. Judy was an avid sewer, quilter, knitter, and reader. She loved playing bridge and was in three different groups - all at the same time. There were always many laughs as it was more about the social aspect than the actual cards. She loved her PBS Masterpiece Mysteries and her Cleveland Indians. During the baseball season, she watched or listened to the game every night, and she talked, for decades, about being at the 1956 World Series game. Her biggest passion was travel. Her first overseas trip was to Morocco, in the early 1960s. With her husband Bob, sometimes accompanied by friends, there were many vacations, both to places in Europe and in the United States, especially to Pompano Beach and Siesta Key, Florida where for many years they spent Thanksgiving. Judy visited 37 states and made it to all seven continents (she briefly stepped on the ice in Antarctica). She passed that love of travel to her daughter Heather, and the two of them, together, visited Ireland, France, Spain, Morocco (again), Canada, Mexico, and many Christmas Markets in Belgium, Austria, and Germany. When international travel became too much, Judy found adventures in the Cleveland area with her sister, Kathe. For the past 4 ½ years, Kathe and Judy got together every Sunday for lunch, a movie, or just a drive. Judy was many things to many people: a wife, a mother, a sister, an aunt, and a good friend. She was family-oriented, and her greatest joy came from her daughter Heather and all the adventures they shared. Her loving family will deeply miss her laughter, wit, and spunk. Her husband, Robert Gilbert, predeceased her. Judy leaves her favorite daughter Heather Gilbert, her favorite sister, Kathe Lombardo (nee Mallo), her (late) favorite brother-in- law Fred Lombardo, her favorite niece Lisa Lombardo, her favorite nephew Steve Lombardo and his wife Polina (her favorite niece-in-law), her favorite eldest great niece Silvia Lombardo and her favorite youngest great niece Joia Lombardo. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to the National Aphasia Association (https://aphasia.org/donate/), Hospice of the Western Reserve (https://p2p.onecause.com/hwr/donate), or John Knox Presbyterian Church (https://www.johnknoxpc.org/give). Judy’s family will have a memorial service at 11 am on January 20, 2024, in the chapel at St. Mary of the Woods in Avon, OH. A celebration of life will follow for friends and family.

Judith Mallo Gilbert

January 20, 1933 - December 9, 2023