Judith Mallo Gilbert's Obituary
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.
What’s your fondest memory of Judith?
What’s a lesson you learned from Judith?
Share a story where Judith's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Judith you’ll never forget.
How did Judith make you smile?