Alex MACAR

MACAR, Alex

87, of Tampa, passed away on Feb. 7, 2015. He was born in 1927, in Ralph, PA. In 1949, he married his wife of 63 years, Evelyn, and together they were lifelong professional musicians and restaurateurs. In the 1940s, Alex performed clarinet and saxophone during his military service and was appointed bandleader of the U.S. Air Force Band in Tokyo, Japan. After the war, Alex worked for U.S. Steel in southwestern Pennsylvania until the late-1950s, when he became the proprietor of the "Wishing Well" nightclub and restaurant near Uniontown, which he and Evelyn operated and performed at until 1969. In 1970, Alex and Evelyn relocated to Tampa with their four children. They performed live music in various Tampa Bay area establishments before opening their own jazz venues, "Smart Alex" in 1975, and "Maestro's" in 1981. Alex continued to perform until 2012. Alex was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, his brothers Ernest and John, his sisters Helen Postlethweight and Jeanne Hoone, and granddaughter Gina Balistreri. He is survived by his daughter, Suzi Balistreri; sons, Robert and wife Robin, Richard and wife Amy, and Alex V; grandsons, Matthew, Kevin, Alex, Gregory and Jeffrey; and granddaughters, Maggie and Lily. A wake service will be held Thursday, Feb. 12, from 6-9 pm, at MacDonald Funeral Home, 10520 N. Florida Ave., Tampa. A funeral Mass will be held Friday, Feb. 13, 10:30 am, at St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church, 15520 North Blvd., Tampa. Family will visit with friends 30 minutes prior to the funeral. In lieu of flowers, contributions to the "University of Tampa Jazz Ensemble" can be mailed with the notation "In memory of Alex Macar" to Development and University Relations, University of Tampa, 401 W. Kennedy Blvd., Box H, Tampa, FL 33606. Send online condolences to macdonaldfuneral.com.

MacDonald Funeral Home - Tampa (813)933-4950