Robert Matthew Gillin ("Bob"), 84, died of heart failure on June 27, 2012 at home with his family. He was born on March 9, 1928 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to James and Agnes Gillin the second of four children. He grew up in Overbrook and attended Our Lady of Lourdes, St. Joseph's Preparatory School and St. Joseph's University. He married the love of his life, Martha (Martie) M. Wolfington on October 19, 1957 and they had ten children, all raised in Bryn Mawr, and 27 grandchildren.

It is an impossible task to try to tell the incredible life story of a man who is widely known as one of the best story tellers around. In 1957, Bob, along with his brother, Jim, co-founded the Petroleum Heat and Power Company, a premier Philadelphia- based heating oil distribution company, which he owned and operated for over 30 years. He spent his career as an entrepreneur, developer and business owner spanning real estate, oil, and small businesses in Pennsylvania and Southern New Jersey.

Bob met his wife, Martie, in Avalon, New Jersey. While spending time there, he recognized the opportunity of growth and development in the Jersey Shore real estate market in the 1960's. Leveraging his business acumen, he developed and invested in many Avalon "firsts", including a miniature golf course, racquet club, appliance store, off shore housing developments, a hotel and condominiums.

Bob's civic contributions were equally impressive. He served on many boards, including St. Joseph's University, Mercy Medical Center, Mannington Mills, First Peoples Bank of New Jersey, St. Edmund's Home for Children, Academy of Notre Dame de Namur. Bob's Catholic faith was also extremely important to him. He was honored in 1975 as a Knight of Malta and in 1982 received the Papal Order of St. Gregory the Great, which is an award to acknowledge an individual's meritorious service to the Church. He was awarded the inaugural Shield of Loyola distinguished alumnus from St. Joseph's University and an honorary Doctorate of Commercial Science from Villanova University.

Even though he had many accomplishments in his life, none were more important to him than his wife and family. He is survived by his wife, Martie, and children, Mary Margaret Lang (Wesley), Marie Therese Smith (Christopher), Mark Gerard Gillin, Agnes Gayhardt (Donald), Martha Bernicker (Charles), Matthew Gillin (Lisa), Stephen Gillin (Leslie) and Mary Frances Cooley (Michael). Bob will join his son, Robert M. Gillin, Jr. who passed on October 27, 1992.

Bob will be missed by many on the beaches of Avalon, at the helm of the "Teddy Bear's Picnic", on the athletic fields encouraging grandchildren in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Maryland, in the church pews, at the lunch table at Philadelphia Country Club and favorite eating establishments along the Main Line.

He will be missed by all for his sense of humor, love of life, belief in the power of education, entrepreneurial spirit, and fierce loyalty to family, friends and faith.

A Funeral Mass will celebrated on Tuesday, July 3rd at 10 AM at St.Thomas of Villanova Church on Villanova University campus. Interment will be in Calvary Cemetery, West Conshohocken, PA.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to SpeakUp/AIDS Alive at 771 E. Lancaster Avenue, Villanova, PA. 19085; or online at www.speakup.org