ROBERT L. MULLIN

MULLIN, ROBERT L.Captain Robert L. Mullin, MD, USNMC Retired departed this life on January 20, 2017 at the age of 88. He was born December 3, 1928 in Somerville, MA. He grew up in Littleton, MA, graduated from Phillips Exeter Academy 1947, received his undergraduate degree from Harvard College 1951, and his medical degree from Tufts University 1955. During his internship, he met and married Diane Dawson Mullin. Together they raised a happy family of seven children. Known for his tremendous generosity and great wit, Dr. Mullin always welcomed and gathered many around him. In 1948, he enlisted as a reserve, which began his 27-year career in the United States Navy. As a navy captain, he proudly served his country and was one of the first sets of doctors trained for NASA's Project Mercury. He had the good fortune to be onboard the USS Noa, as the Senior Medical Officer, where he memorably met John Glenn at splashdown from his historic orbit of earth. He toured the country giving speeches and interviews about the Glenn space flight and his role as Glenn's doctor. His navy career moved his family around the country including New York (General Surgery intern,) Philadelphia (General Surgery resident,) Charleston (Assistant Chief of Surgery,) Keflavik, Iceland (Senior Medical Officer and Icelandic Defense Force Surgeon,) San Diego (Thoracic Surgery resident, where he operated on many wounded veterans from the Vietnam War,) and Boston (Chief of Thoracic Surgery) until his retirement from his second tour at the Philadelphia Naval Hospital (Director of Clinical Services / Deputy Commanding Officer) in 1975. Dr. Bob then settled in Wallingford, CT for the next 36 years. He worked at Meriden-Wallingford Hospital, Yale-New Haven Hospital, the former St. Raphael's Hospital, Health Systems International (HSI) and 3M. In civilian life, he personally and professionally dedicated himself to the expansion of healthcare for all. He was part of the team that developed the prospective payment system (DRG & APG) used by the federal government's Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. He was instrumental in the development of the ICD-10 diagnosis and procedure coding systems adopted by the World Health Organization (WHO) and over 25 countries around the world. After his wife's death in 2011, he returned to Philadelphia, PA to assume his full-time role as "Grampa Bob." He lived at the Atria Center City where he was known to cause a lot of laughter with his jokes and sense of humor. In addition to his wife, he was predeceased by his parents, Lillian (Boisseau) and Paul Mullin and his brother Dr. William F. Mullin. He is survived by his seven children: Stephen (Janet), Roberta (Scott), Michele, Diane (David), Denise (Mary) Michael (Danielle) and Maureen (Larry); ten grandchildren Natasha (Josh), Genvieve (Clete), Andrew, Ariel (Omar), Alessandra, Liam, Max, Sophie, Lillian, and Olivia; and two great-granddaughters Aolani and Amala. He is also survived by a sister-in-law Gwendolyn Mullin, brother-in-law, William Dawson; nieces Kathleen Mullin Henrich, Patricia Wilkins, Denise Miller, Martha Dawson Barnard; and nephews Paul Mullin and William J. Dawson III. His family will receive relatives and friends at The Wallingford Funeral Home, 809 North Main St. Ext., Wallingford CT Saturday, February 4, from 10 am - 11am with a service immediately following. Interment will be in St. John Cemetery in Wallingford. In lieu of flowers, gifts in his memory may be made to the Navy - Marine Corps Relief Society.www.wallingfordfh.com