Robert “Terry” Mullen, Had Career at Merck, Many Interests
Robert Terrence Mullen was born on September 25, 1935 and passed away on March 8, 2024. Known as Terry, he is predeceased by his first two wives, Ann Mundy Mullen and Susan Nagelberg Mullen; his sisters Patricia and Kathleen, and his brother John. Terry is survived by his current wife of eleven years, Deborah Mangis; his sisters Louise and Peggy, and brother Jim; his children, Julia, Robert, Sheila and Sarah; his stepson, Paul; his grandchildren, Hannah, Hunter, Emma, Elizabeth, Audrey, Timothy, Eleanor and Lorelei, and many other family members and close friends.
Terry was born in Chicago to Robert Glenn Mullen and Marie Jane Bradley Reilly, the eldest of seven children. His education includes an undergraduate degree in chemistry from the University of Illinois in 1957, a Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of California at Berkeley in 1961 (studying under the future Nobel laureate Melvin Calvin), and postdoctoral work at Brookhaven National Lab. Terry and Ann married in their sophomore year of college. In 1963, Terry settled into a career with the pharmaceutical company Merck in New Jersey. Beginning his career at Merck as a lab chemist, he later switched to a role in automation and control, leading the computerization of drug manufacture. Terry lived in Westfield, New Jersey, throughout his work career, retiring in 1993. Terry and Susan moved to Sanford, North Carolina, in 2001, where Susan passed away in 2009. He continued to enjoy Sanford with his third great love, Deborah, whom he married in 2012. Terry made the most out of life. He sailed, flew small planes, played golf and tennis, coached Little League baseball, played the recorder, attended operas and other musical events (and sang enthusiastically at home), enjoyed dining clubs and grew vegetable gardens. He continued his interest in science his whole life. He traveled widely with his family over the years, including visits to Egypt, Europe, Mexico, Australia and New Zealand, and small plane and RV trips in the U.S. and Canada.
A Celebration of Life for Terry is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Saturday, June 8, 2024, at Carolina Trace Country Club in Sanford, North Carolina. In lieu of any flowers, please make donations to CARA or Bread Basket in Sanford, North Carolina. Inurnment will be on Tuesday, June 11, at Columbia Gardens in Arlington, Va.
Online condolences may be made at www.millerboles.com.
Services are entrusted to Miller-Boles Funeral Home.
March 21, 2024
