Robert “Bob” A. Mallery, 77, of Shinglehouse, Pennsylvania, passed away on September 1, 2026, following a short illness, surrounded by his four daughters.
Bob was born in Binghamton, New York, the son of Robert G. and Joan Mallery. They resided in Hancock, NY, where his father started his first lumber mill. In the early ‘60s, the Mallery family moved to Emporium, Pennsylvania, where his father, Robert, and beloved uncle, George Mee, built Mallery Lumber Corporation together. It was there that Bob was introduced to the hardwood lumber industry that would become his life’s work.
Bob graduated from Cameron County High School in Emporium. In the years that followed, his independent spirit and sense of adventure took him well beyond Pennsylvania. His love of travel continued throughout his life, often intertwined with one of his greatest passions: golf. Countless golf trips took him near and far, creating lasting friendships, memorable experiences, and more than a few good stories along the way. He shared his love of the game with his four daughters, teaching each of them to play, and eventually turned that passion into a business venture with the purchase of Bolivar Country Club.
Bob founded RAM Forest Products in Shinglehouse in 1978. What began as a modest circle sawmill grew under his leadership into one of the region’s most sophisticated hardwood manufacturing operations and an important part of the local economy and life of the surrounding community.
For Bob, RAM was far more than a business. It was his life’s work and a tremendous source of pride. A hands-on owner who knew the business from the ground up, he set high standards and believed in hard work, loyalty, and doing things the right way. He felt a deep responsibility to the people whose livelihoods depended on RAM and to the community the mill helped support.
Away from work, Bob was private by nature, fiercely independent, and possessed a dry sense of humor that those closest to him knew well. He was determined, strong-willed, and famously stubborn. He wasn’t one for grand gestures or attention, but those who knew him best understood the depth of his generosity and loyalty. He showed he cared in his own way—often quietly, practically, and without expecting recognition or thanks.
Bob’s greatest legacy is the family he leaves behind. He is survived by his four daughters: Laura Mallery (Fred) Ray, Michelle Mallery (Jeffrey) Piposar, Paula Mallery, and Katherine (Mathew) Burlingame. He loved his six grandchildren immensely: Jackson Ray; Sloane and Xander Piposar; and Amelia, Riley, and Ava Burlingame.
He is also survived by ReaAnn Mallery (Gutgsell), the mother of his four daughters; his four siblings, Patrick (Charlotte) Mallery of Virginia Beach, Stephen (Deborah) Mallery and George Mallery of Eugene, OR, and Barbara Mallery (Jim) Clontz of Lancaster, PA; and numerous nieces and nephews.
A private service will be held for Bob’s immediate family. All are invited to join the family for a celebration of Bob’s life on Saturday, September 19, from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. at The Old Library Restaurant in Olean, New York.
In lieu of flowers, the family invites those wishing to honor Bob’s memory to plant a tree—a fitting tribute to a man whose life and livelihood were so deeply connected to the forests and hardwood industry he loved. To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Bob spent his life building things: a business, a community, friendships, and, most importantly, a family. The mill he devoted nearly five decades to will stand as a testament to his vision, determination, and work ethic. But his greater legacy lives in the people he cared for, the opportunities he created, the friendships he formed, and the family he loved. He will be deeply missed and forever remembered.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Guenther Funeral Home Inc., 1303 E. State St., Olean, New York.
Online condolences can be expressed at www.guentherfh.com
