Albert P Macks

Albert is survived by his wife of 64 years, Sylvia (Goldberg), 2 sons, Jon and Adam, and 5 grandchildren, Daniel, Samantha, Richard, Jeremy, and Eleanor.

Born in Philadelphia, he was a graduate of Northeast High in 1942. He was drafted into the Army Air Corps and served in support roles for the D-Day invasion and the Battle of the Bulge. After V-E Day he remained in the Europe with the US Army of Occupation. He rose to the rank of Staff Sergeant. He received his honorable discharge in January of 1946.

After working in a pickle factory then Canada Dry beverages, he opened Mack Beverage on the 6100 block of Lancaster Ave. in West Philadelphia where he was a retail and wholesale distributor of Beer, Soda, and Ice. He also owned several automated ice and soda machines in the region. He was known to his business associates as “Mack”.

Al and Sylvia had Jon in 1954, bought a home in Springfield PA in 1956, and had Adam in 1962. They remained in Springfield until 2012 when they moved to an assisted living facility in Moorpark, CA

In the early 60’s, Mack Beverage became a business about a man and a truck. He moved his stock to storage facilities in the 5800 block of Baltimore Avenue. and decided to concentrate on ice and the wholesale end of the soda business. To avoid directly competing with the larger companies, he concentrated on selling smaller regional and ethnic beverage brands to specialty stores, delis and restaurants. He was one of the first importers of bottled water from Europe. His motto was that if you’ve never heard of it, call Mack.

The business moved to 6120 Vine Street in West Philadelphia 1968. The business expanded to include several employees from the surrounding neighborhood, a small fleet of soda delivery trucks and a refrigerated ice delivery truck. His trucks could be seen as far away as New York City, Atlantic City, and Baltimore. In 1979 he reopened his retail business and returned to selling beer. Mack Beverage and Mack became a part of the neighborhood until the business was sold and Mack retired in 2005. During his retirement, he volunteered at the Franklin Institute and the United States Constitution Center.

Albert died peacefully in his sleep on June 19, 2013.

A memorial service will be held for Albert P. Macks at 3:00pm Sunday, June 23rd at Dignity Memorial Pierce Brothers Valley Oaks Memorial Park. 5600 Lindero Canyon Road, Westlake Village, CA 91362

http://www.dignitymemorial.com/pierce-brothers-valley-oaks-memorial-park/en-us/index.page

Adam and his family will sit shiva on Tuesday, June 25th and will be welcoming guests at their house in Brooklyn, NY between 5:30 and 9:00pm.

Donations may be made to the Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute 120 East 38th Street, New York NY 10016

http://www.adoptioninstitute.org