John “Johnny” Mallia, age 57, succumbed to his battle with cancer on February 24, 2016, wrapped in the arms of his loving wife, Sara.
Johnny was born in Manhattan, New York, where he lived until 1969 whereupon his family moved to Waldwick, NJ. He loved to reminisce of the times he and his friends raised hell, tormenting the Police Officers of Waldwick (as well as many other neighboring towns) using the streets as drag strips, his neighbors backyards as “short cuts” and highways as his personal “Autobahn”. John’s first love and passion throughout his entire life was CARS!!! It was truly his greatest outlet for personal and creative expression.
While John has moved countless times throughout his life, constantly following work, it was almost twelve years ago, while developing in Ormond Beach, Florida that he met his wife, Sara (Secunda) Mallia. They were married on two separate occasions, the first on October 7, 2012 (a private wedding officiated by the Mayor of Watchung, NJ) and the second on July5, 2013, “The Big Wedding” (a celebration to honor their love surrounded by all of their family and friends). John has also lived and loved in many other locations such as Tannersville, PA, Rockaway, NJ, Point Pleasant, NJ, Ormond Beach, FL, Brick, NJ, Millstone Township, NJ, Bedminster, NJ, Bloomsbury, NJ, Morristown, NJ. John lived and worked 40+ years in the Construction Industry as a General Contractor throughout the Tri-State area and various parts of Florida. He went to work at a very young age to help support his family, as his Father had sadly been diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. He put his family first and worked tirelessly throughout his life to ensure their comfort and success. John prided himself in his work and as a result was an accomplished and respected man in his Industry.
John was diagnosed with cancer in 2012. After receiving surgery and treatment, he was deemed to be in remission. It was at his three year check-up this past June, it was discovered that the cancer had metastasized to Stage IV. John, never one to give up, decided to undergo additional treatments and a clinical trial. Unfortunately, due to the nature and aggressiveness of the cancer, John was forced to succumb to the disease. John was a fighter, his whole life. He never gave up. He never stopped trying. He fought until he took his very last breath.
John was and will always be remembered as an unstoppable force. He is an inspiration to all.
John was predeceased by his Father, Albert T. Mallia, Sr. John was the beloved husband of Sara A. (Secunda) Mallia, devoted son of Florence (Leon) Mallia, devoted brother of Albert T. Mallia, Jr., Anthony Mallia, and Valerie (Mallia) Trushell and her Husband Patrick Trushell. John was the devoted Nephew, Cousin, Uncle, Godfather, Son-In-Law, Brother-In-Law and Friend to many.
John’s Memorial Service will be held Monday, February 29, 2016, 11:00a.m., at St. Mary of Czestochowa Church, 201 Vosseller Ave. Bound Brook, NJ 08805. Parking is limited, so please carpool if at all possible. His Wife will be receiving guests to Celebrate John’s Life in their home following the service.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in John’s memory to the Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Foundation www.rwjuhfdn.org, where Dr. Jonathan Rosenbluth, his Oncologist and countless others Doctors and Nurses, believed in him enough to give him one last fighting chance to live his life. You may also donate to Cane Corso Rescue, Inc. www.canecorsorescue.org, which as you all know John’s other passion in life, were his dogs. This again is an organization which is so very special to us as our last boy’s Bear and Odin were both Rescue’s that were lucky enough to be taken in, so they could be given one last chance at a happy fur-ever life!
