Businessman and boat racer Albert Fleischmann Jr. dies
By CRAIG BASSE
Published September 25, 2003
ST. PETERSBURG - Albert J. "Al" Fleischmann Jr., a retired hardware chain executive and noted sailor, has died at 89.
Mr. Fleischmann, a former owner of five Ace Hardware stores in Pinellas County, died Tuesday (Sept. 23, 2003) at Largo Health Center.
Born in Baltimore, he moved to Pinellas County in 1955, buying a hardware store in St. Petersburg Beach. He later opened stores in Pinellas Park, the Crossroads and Northeast Shopping centers in St. Petersburg and in Seminole Mall.
Mr. Fleischmann, who was elected to the national board of directors of Ace Hardware, retired in 1994.
A member of the St. Petersburg Yacht Club, he sailed in Southern Ocean Racing Conference races, most recently in the Toy, but switched to power boats in 1968.
As skipper of Three Aces, he was elected to the Gulf Marine Hall of Champions and the American Power Boat Association Hall of Fame.
He was a former city commissioner of St. Petersburg Beach and a past president of the Madeira Beach Chamber of Commerce. He served in the Marine Corps in World War II.
A former South Pasadena resident, he moved to Nurses Helping Hands Assisted Living, Pinellas Park, about four years ago.
Survivors include a daughter, Patricia F. Johnson, Largo; a granddaughter, Patricia G. Fiedler, Pinellas Park; and a great granddaughter, Amber Fiedler.
David C. Gross Funeral Homes and Crematory, Central Avenue Chapel, is in charge.
- Information from Times files was used in this obituary.
