Roll Call Tribute

Mario Macaluso
March 20, 1944 – August 5, 2021

Mario Macaluso of Palm Beach Gardens. Florida passed away on Thursday, August 5, 2021. He was born to Armando and Kathryn Macaluso on March 20, 1944 in Miami Beach, FL. He was one in a million.

Mario retired from the US Army after 20 years of service. He was a Field Artillery Officer, an Army Ranger and Parachutist and spent two tours of duty in Vietnam. In the last 8 years of his military career, he attended the first Army Organizational Effectiveness (OE) course and became an OE and Program Management Officer providing consulting and training to numerous military operations. After his military career, he spent 20+ years as a consultant and trainer to both the government and corporate entities.

Mario graduated from Jefferson High School in San Antonio, Texas and was a proud Aggie graduating from Texas A&M University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Zoology. At A&M he was Senior Class Vice President, C.O. of 5th Battalion, Ross Volunteers, Student Senate, Vice Chairman Cadet Court, Distinguished Military Student. It’s where he learned to be “a soldier, a statesman, and a knightly gentleman.” It became his mantra for life. He later earned a Masters Degree in Organizational Management from Pepperdine University in Los Angeles, CA.

Mario was a lifelong learner. He never met a stranger, and often came home to announce he just met a ‘new best friend’. He was an avid golfer, a reader and a current news aficionado. He was a loving husband and devoted father; an amazing and caring grandfather known as “Pops”; a wise brother and brother-in-law; a patient and caring uncle and father-in-law; and for many, many people a best friend. He will be missed. However, everyone will remember: “The one you love and lose is no longer where he was before; now he is everywhere you are.”

Mario was the beloved husband of Becky for 51 years; devoted father to Mia Lowe (Mike), Leah Wefer and Maria Soljic and special daughter/niece Tisa Habas (Glenn) ; brother to Marco Macaluso (Tammi) and Margo DiRoma (Dante). He will always live on in the hearts of his grandchildren Hunter, Wyatt, River, Autumn, Jasmine, Lily and step grandsons Zach and Evan. Mario also is survived by a host of other loving nephews, nieces, cousins and great friends.

A memorial service with Military Honors will be held on Friday, October 8, 2021 at 10:00AM at the South Florida National Cemetery, 6501 South State Road 7, Lake Worth, Florida 33449. A Celebration of Life gathering will follow from 12:00PM to 2:00PM at the Eastpointe Country Club, 13535 Eastpointe Boulevard, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33418.

In lieu of flowers, please do something kind for someone else and learn something new. Mario would have liked that.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.neptunesociety.com/location/fort-lauderdale-cr for the Macaluso family.

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