Alfonso A. "Al" Balestieri passed away after a brief illness at the Elmhurst Nursing Home in Melrose on February 26, 2010. He was 89 years of age. Al was born in Boston on September 9, 1920 to the late Carmine & Angelina (Picardi) Balestieri. He was raised in the North End and graduated from Brighton High School. Al served in the US Navy during WWII as a Seabee from 1942 to 1946. Mr. Balestieri moved to Melrose in 1958 and has been a resident for the past 52 years. Al was one of the owners of M&A Fruit Company in the North End of Boston where he worked from 1950 to 1986. After his retirement he continued to work for his son Robert at his fruit stores for several years. He enjoyed boating and fishing with his son John, was a member of Browns Yacht Club in Gloucester for over 40 years, enjoyed eating and loved his grandchildren. Mr. Balestieri was the beloved husband of Rose (Limone) Balestieri. Loving father of Robert J. Balestieri & his wife Amy of Sherborn, John P. Balestieri of Melrose, Catherine M. Bourgeois & her husband James and Diane C. Monteiro & her husband Kenneth all of Woburn. Grandfather of Sarah, Jacob, Nathan, Danielle, Nicole, Alex, David, Chelsea, Bethany, Christina, Annalise & Andrew. Great grandfather of Tristan. Brother of Phyllis Paleo of Saugus, Anna Lutz of NY and the late Jennie DellaRusso, Mike Balestierio & Sr. Mary Nicolette. Brother-in-law of Joseph Lutz, Laura Limone, Connie & Salvatore Athanas, Mary Bramante, Rosario & Helen Limone, Lena Fortunato, Carmella Scott, Helen Palano, Peter & Olympia Limone and the late Patrick Paleo, Carmen DellaRusso, Emma Balestierio, Joseph Limone, Salvatore Limone, Josephine Micale, James Limone, Mary Limone, James Bramante & Frank Limone. Also survived by numerous nieces & nephews. Funeral from the Gately Funeral Home, 79 W. Foster St. Melrose, on Tues. March 2nd at 9AM. Funeral Mass in Al's memory at Most Blessed Sacrament Church, 1155 Main St. Wakefield, at 10AM. Relatives & friends invited. Visiting hours Monday from 4:00-8:00PM. Interment at Woodlawn Cemetery in Everett.