p>Longtime Sterling resident Mr. Edward P. “Mac” Maciariello, 83, died Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2013, at his home in Sterling. Memorial services will be announced at a later date.

Mac was born Oct. 12, 1929, in Lawrence, Mass. He attended and graduated from Edward Searles High School in 1947. He joined the military and got his technical and electronics degree through the military. He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1947 until 1951, when he was honorably discharged. After leaving the service he joined the Federal Aviation Administration and eventually got transferred to Alaska. Mac served on the board and later as president at the Fed Alaska Federal Credit Union. In 1962 he moved to Alaska, living in King Salmon for a year before moving to Cordova in 1963. Mac lived in Cordova for eight years before moving to Anchorage in 1971. He lived in Anchorage until 1995 then moved to Sterling in 1995, where he lived until his death.

In 1985 Mac retired from the FAA. He was a member of the National Rifle Association with Golden Eagle status. He was a generous supporter of St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, food banks and the NRA. Mac loved airplanes, flying, guns, his rescued Labrador retrievers and his life in Alaska.

The family wrote, “Our Dad will be missed greatly. From him we got our love of the outdoors, our sense of adventure and strong sense of honor. He was always the first to help a friend in need. He enjoyed his grandchildren, watching them learn to bowl, race motocross, ride bulls and keeping in touch through great letters. He also enjoyed the ‘Betty Lou’ community and all his great friends and neighbors.”

Mac was preceded in death by his children, Gina and Jeff Maciariello; and siblings, Peter, Alfred, Albert, Antoinette Legere, Mary Longo and Lina Maciariello.

He is survived by his children, Laura Maciariello of Soldotna; Teresa Maciariello Graves of Anchorage; Killian Kidrick of Prescott, Ariz.; Jim Maciariello of Drain, Ore.; and Sandra Stevens of Sterling; grandchildren, Dan, Jacob, James and Ben Maciariello; Hanna, Tucker and Lindsey Graves; Cathy Wilson; Emma and Chhai Kidrick; Brett Olds, and Trixie Bigby; former wife, Elizabeth Maciariello of Anchorage; and his beloved Labrador retriever, Abby.

Memorial donations may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105, or AK Animal Sanctuary, P.O. Box 8051, Nikiski, AK 99635.

Arrangements were made by Peninsula Memorial Chapel & Crematory. Please visit Mac’s obituary and online guestbook at alaskanfuneral.com.