Lawrence Robert MacAlister was born in Worcester, Mass., in 1935, and grew up to be a Renaissance man, tuning his skills in a variety of careers. An engineer who graduated from MIT, he also raced cars (including an early Carroll Shelby Cobra) and motorcycles, earning trophies that he discarded along the way. For a while he worked for the Atomic Energy Commission, delving into the properties of heavy water, a field that influenced his entrepreneurial efforts in later life. He spent many years as a general contractor, building communities, shopping centers, and commercial buildings in Massachusetts, Florida and North Carolina. And in the middle of that career, he took several years off to be a charter boat captain in Cape Cod.

When he moved with his wife Carol to Sun City Center, he didn’t quite retire, reactivating his general contractor’s license and lending his expertise to a variety of projects. He also returned to painting, one of his early loves, and earned Best of Show in the very first art show he entered locally. And he became a Pelican Player, serving as vice president and acting in the mainstage production of “Angel Street,” as well as in Reader’s Theatre and variety shows.

Lawrence passed away September 23, 2020. In addition to his wife, he leaves three children, seven grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.

Photo and tribute courtesy of Carol MacAlister 11-29-2020