Malcolm Lancaster “Mac” Monroe

Malcolm Lancaster “Mac” Monroe passed away September 21, 2024 at the age of 87, from natural causes.

Mac was born April 19, 1937 in Rogers City to Nola and Donald Monroe. In his youth, he enjoyed hunting, fishing and was a voracious reader.  He had one younger sister, Donna Lou Ritter, who preceded him in death in 2021.

During his early adulthood, he served as a merchant mariner on the Great Lakes, following the example of his father, who was a limestone freighter captain. He attended the University of Michigan, where, amongst other things, he worked on experimental aircraft and enjoyed skydiving.  He left the university shortly before graduating, to take a job with RCA in the nascent aerospace industry.

Mac’s career was spent as a cold-warrior, collecting and analyzing telemetry of missile launches both on land and at sea.  He was proud of the time he spent on the USNS Vandenberg (T-AGM-10), and then later on the USNS Observation Island (T-AGM-23) missile range instrumentation ship, where he participated in the Cobra Judy missions to monitor international ballistic missile tests in the Pacific, and ensure compliance with strategic arms treaties.  Later, he would become the site manager for Nichols Research Corporation at the Innovative Science and Technology Experimentation Facility (ISTEF), which used advanced laser systems to collect data about launches both offsite, and at Cape Canaveral.  He retired in April of 2005.

Mac was an avid fan of beer and home brewing, a certified beer judge, and a member of the Central Florida Home Brewers and the Alliance of Sommeliers in Orlando, Florida.  He was well-known throughout the central Florida wine and beer communities for his encyclopedic knowledge of brewing, vinting and tasting.  He was passionate about classical music, and supported the Brevard Symphony Orchestra, and the Melbourne Chamber Music Society as a longtime season ticket holder.

Mac married Christine Pizczeck Monroe in September of 1974, and they remained married until her death in March of 2020. Together, they had four children, Ian Dona

ld Monroe, Douglas Andrew Monroe, Morgan Campbell Monroe and Arden Leigh Monroe-Obermeit. He had one grandson, Nolan Monroe Obermeit. He is survived by his children, grandchild, and innumerable friends around the United States and abroad. The family wishes to extend an invitation to join them in celebrating Mac’s life Sunday, October 20, at the DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Melbourne Beach Oceanfront, 1665 N. State Route A1A, Melbourne, FL 32903, from noon until 3:30 p.m.  A toast will follow at one of Mac’s favorite places, Coasters Pub and Biergarten, at 971 E. Eau Gallie Blvd, Melbourne FL, 32937. 

 In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to your favorite charity in his memory.  For more information regarding a livestream of the service, please visit https://mac-monroe.com/.