Bowen & Parker Bros. Funeral Home
Oxford, Maryland - Robert E. Malesardi peacefully passed away at the age of 96 on January 16, 2021 at his waterfront home in Oxford MD. His beloved wife Doris was by his side. Born in the Bronx on October 5, 1924 to Harold and Natalie Hoer Malesardi, he grew up in Tenafly, NJ. Bob was laid to rest on the hallowed grounds of the historic Albany Rural Cemetery.
An early achiever, Bob entered Bucknell University at age 16, where he was a commerce and finance major, a member of Sigma Chi, the wrestling team and the Navy V-12 program. At age 20, he was the youngest commissioned officer in the Navy.
Bucknell was a huge influence in his life and he taught his daughters the full version of "The Sweetheart of Sigma Chi" at a tender age. Since Bob's education was interrupted by service in the Navy during WWII, he wasn't sure if he was class of '45 or '47 but opted for '45 since it was a better reunion year. He celebrated his 75th reunion in 2020.
After graduating, Bob worked in NYC for a Big 8 accounting firm, but soon decided commuting wasn't for him and he'd rather be his own boss. He founded the CPA firm Malesardi, Quackenbush & Swift in Englewood, NJ and in addition to accounting, became a real estate investor and developer. He also taught accounting principles at Rutgers evening division for several years.
During this period, and for the rest of his days, he was an avid tennis player, gardener and exercise fan. Real estate, both business and personal, was a passion - the number of homes he built and lived in are too numerous to count. On an afternoon ride, he might return with a new house, and if he built a house, he might build the same house again with improvements the following year. No driving trip was complete without stopping to shop for rhododendrons and day lilies. He did 1000 crunches a day until the age of 95 when he made some slight modifications. He was never without a glass of Diet Pepsi, and although he would drink other brands later in life, he likely contributed to the success of PepsiCo. The crunches also allowed him to indulge in ice cream and chocolate candy. His interest in the stock market was legendary. Monday through Friday, he was at his desk when the Opening Bell rang, and never missed the Closing Bell either. He was astute in options trading, and even into his 90's described himself as a long term investor.
The project closest to Bob's heart was "the hotel", now known as "The Four Seasons Resort, Palm Beach". He walked the property daily, chatting with guests, and generally making sure everything met his exacting standards. He was a talented raconteur and guests loved to sit with "Mr. M" and have a glass of iced tea, always with Splenda, opened in groups of three packets. The staff brought the Splenda in a silver container which was engraved "Mr. Malesardi's Splenda", a fanciful eccentricity used to convey their admiration and affection for him.
Bob's marriage to Doris exposed him to a more cultural side of life. He attended the opera, Philadelphia Orchestra, New York City Ballet, and art museums, and became an enthusiastic supporter of The Clark Art Institute in Williamstown MA. True to form, he encouraged everyone to visit, and see "The Four Seasons Room", which carries his and Doris' names.
Bob had a uniform in his later years, featuring khaki trousers, his signature Timberland moccasins, and his unparalleled collection of Ralph Lauren cashmere cable sweaters in a rainbow of colors. Bucknell and Doris were Bob's greatest loves. Though they met during a later act in a long life, they shared more than 15 years of loving and caring happiness. They traveled to Italy and Great Britain especially to enjoy the world renowned museums and glorious countryside.
Throughout his life, Bob was the consummate gentleman. He was courteous and always opened doors for others, both figuratively and literally. He gave sound advice, based on this vast business experience, and championed many worthy students who dreamed of attending Bucknell.
One of Bob's major legacies is his gift to Bucknell University, and the plaque on what is now Malesardi Quadrangle will honor his memory for future Bucknellians. The gift, then the largest in the university's history, was to fund scholarships. The Malesardi Finance Trading Room at Elmira College, complete with live ticker tape, was another investment in education of which he was duly proud.
If, as it is said, youth is a gift, and age is a work of art, Bob was a masterpiece.
He is survived by his loving wife, Doris Fischer Malesardi, his brother Richard Malesardi (Mary Alice), his daughters, Carol Litwak (Jim), Janet Schaeder (Bill), Ann Malesardi, and Jill Malesardi, his eleven grandchildren as well as nieces and nephews.
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