Date of death: 6/28/2025
Saint Meinrad Class: O 1970
He was born Sept. 14, 1944 in Greene Co., Pa. to Angela Mickunas and Joseph Malinsky Jr. Bob attended Saint Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology for both high school and college and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in philosophy in 1966. After graduating, he served in the Air Force until 1969. Bob went on to work in property and casualty insurance for over 25 years and began his second career as a nurse in 2000. He worked as a registered nurse, mostly in cardiac ICU, for 22 years in Arkansas and Houston before retiring at the age of 77.
While working as a registered nurse in Houston in 2013, Bob participated in his first mission trip with Faith In Practice, a non-profit organization that provides medical care to underserved communities in Guatemala. Bob was in charge of the Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU), where patients recovered after surgery. His leadership extended beyond this role. He tirelessly recruited nurses to ensure Faith In Practice had enough staff for each mission trip he was involved in. He sponsored many of the team members, covering the cost of both trip fees and flights. In 2017, Bob added a second mission trip to his annual service. Bob made a total of 19 mission trips to Guatemala, and his 20th will be his final — a journey where his remains will be laid to rest.
In addition to his work in healthcare at the hospital and on mission trips, Bob was passionate about music. At the age of 12, he began playing the organ for Saint Mary and Ann Catholic Church in Mariana, Pa. He also played the piano and guitar. In the late 1970s and 1980s, Bob played guitar at several churches in their folk groups including St. Matthews Lutheran Church in Ft. Worth, Texas, St. Francis of Assisi in Lancaster, Texas and St. Robert Bellarmine in Freehold, N.J. During his mission trips to Guatemala, he personally selected the songs, led the practice sessions, and coordinated the musical presentations during the morning devotions.
Bob loved gathering with his family in the fall for weekly Steelers football games. He enjoyed spending time with his brothers, sisters, and many nieces and nephews on his biennial family reunion trips to Myrtle Beach, which were very special to him. Bob embraced his passion for fitness throughout his life, regularly running marathons, swimming laps, and lifting weights.
People who knew Bob will remember him as a fighter, a giver, a man who selflessly served others, and a man who loved the Lord.
Bob’s mother, Angela, and father, Joseph, preceded him in death. Survivors include his wife, Marci of Katy, Texas; two sons, Matt (Kahla) Malinsky of Houston; Craig (Jossie) Malinsky of Katy, Texas; and daughter, Jennifer Malinsky, of Kingwood, Texas; five grandchildren, Ella, Jade, Lucas, Catalina, and Bennett. Other survivors include both his brothers, Joe (Nancy) Malinsky, Greg (Susie) Malinsky; three sisters, Marie Fedorko, Gloria (Rick) Klemencic, Cathy Poole, and many nieces and nephews.