Alberto A. de Alejo, Jr.

He was born in Habana, Cuba on April 21, 1948 and was educated at Malvern Preparatory School and Georgetown University. He voluntarily enlisted in the United States Army and served his new country faithfully as a lieutenant of infantry (Airborne) in the Vietnam War. He was awarded the Bronze Star for Valor by the United States Government and the Republic of South Vietnam's Honor Medal for conspicuous gallantry, in addition to several campaign ribbons. After his service, Alberto returned to Tampa, Florida where he and his brother, with help from their father and James Shimberg, founded a building and development company that, over the next 40 years, built thousands of homes in Hillsborough County.

Along the way, Alberto served as President of the Georgetown Alumni Club of West Florida, trustee of Centro Asturiano Hospital, trustee of the University of Tampa, board member of the American Cancer Society, and board member and one of the founders of Joshua House. In addition, he was a member of the Tampa Bay Committee on Foreign Relations (50 years), The Tampa Yacht Club and the Krewe of Gasparilla. In 1999 he and his son were invested as Knights of Malta, a distinct honor, of the Catholic Church.

He is survived by Elisa Espinosa, his wife and guardian angel, his children Brucie (Christopher) Pitino and his son Alberto (Becca) and his grandchildren, Andrew, James, and Nicolas Pitino and Sebastian and Savanna de Alejo.

Funeral mass will be held at St. Patrick Catholic Church, 4518 S. Manhattan Ave, Tampa, on Monday, October 23rd at 10am. The family will have a private interment at Florida National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to the Ana Restrepo del Corral Foundation or the charity of your choice.

The honorary pall bearers are J. Thomas Touchton, Robert M. Snibbe, Joseph T. Lykes, William J. Flynn III, Anthony Borrell, Charles Robbins, Steve Crane, Thomas Farrell, Peter Sweetser, Dionel Cotanda, Leonard Gilbert, John Sullivan, Thompson Rankin, Michael Thomas, Steve Gardner, Fred Dobbins, Paul Lyons, and Mark Sievers.