Dr. Robert J. Zullo, of North Brunswick, passed away Friday, August 6, 2021 at Parker Nursing Home in New Brunswick. He was 95.
Dr. Zullo was born and raised in Port Reading, NJ and graduated Woodbridge High School in 1942. He attended Northwestern University and joined the Navy attending Harvard Medical School under the GI Bill. After graduating medical school, Dr. Zullo attended residency programs at the US Naval Hospital in Long Beach, CA, the Metropolitan Hospital in NY, the University of Rochester NY, and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in NY. Dr. Zullo entered private practice in New Brunswick in 1955 where he attended the medical needs of area residents for more than three decades and served as the Chief of Medical Oncology for both Middlesex General Hospital and St. Peters Medical Center. He was named Physician of the Year by the NJ Division of the American Cancer Society in 1968.
After private practice, Dr. Zullo served as Chief of Occupational Medicine at Johnson & Johnson's McNeil Pharmaceutical Division and Corporate Medical Director for Occupational Medicine at Merck & Co worldwide. In 1990, he was awarded the Sir William Osler, MD Humanitarian Award presented by the American Lung Association of NJ for wellness programs he established while at Merck. Dr. Zullo returned to active duty with the Navy Medical Corps for five years and served as the Division Surgeon for the 2nd Marine Division. He later served in the US Naval Reserve Medical Corps as a Captain and received the Navy Commendation Medal in 1986.
Dr. Zullo taught at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of NJ and was emeritus staff member at Saint Peters University Hospital and Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital. In 2011, he received the Saint Peter's Healthcare System's Bishop Award recognizing his commitment to Healthcare and the Community.
Dr. Zullo endowed a scholarship in his name at the Rutgers University School of Nursing firmly believing that nurses serve as the pillars of healthcare delivery.
When leaving practice after 30 years, a Home News Editorial headline read - "Dr. Zullo will be missed".
He was predeceased by wife Barbara (d. 2021) and brother, Dr. Edward Zullo, and is survived by his brother, Dr. Joseph Zullo, and his children, Robert J. Zullo Jr. of Grasonville, MD, Richard Zullo, and his wife, Laura, of Belle Mead, James Zullo and his wife, Tanja, of Piscataway; his daughter Elena Powers of Sandy Hook, CT, and his 10 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren.
Visitation for friends and relatives will be held Wednesday, August 11th, from 4:00 – 8:00 pm at The Crabiel Home for Funerals, 170 N Main St.at Riva Avenue, Milltown. Entombment will be private at Holy Cross Burial Park in East Brunswick. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to the Saint Peter's Health Care System Foundation @ https://www.saintpetershcs.com/Donate. You may sign the online condolence "guestbook" at www.crabiel.com