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'Buster' Mirabella Renowned For Seafood

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By STEPHEN HAMMILL

The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 16, 2008

TAMPA - Sebastian "Buster" Mirabella, co-owner of the now-closed Mirabella's Seafood Restaurant and fish market, died Friday of heart failure. He was 94.

For three generations, the Mirabella Fish Co. market, on the Hillsborough River near the Platt Street Bridge, was the most frequented of its kind in Tampa.

In 1952, a companion restaurant opened on Dale Mabry Highway. Both locations became destination spots for local politicians.

Mirabella's grandfather, Sebastian, emigrated from Sicily and began the family business in Tampa in 1895, selling fish from a wagon to hungry dockworkers.

The fish business kept the younger Sebastian busy.

"He was just a hardworking man," Mirabella's son, Morris, 68, said. "He started working when he was 14 years old and didn't stop until he was 75."

After Mirabella and his two younger brothers, Sam and Salvadore, retired, the market closed in 1987. The restaurant followed suit four years later. Sam and Salvadore have since died.

Norma Salter worked at Mirabella's fish market as a cashier for 31 years, until it closed.

She said Mirabella "was the best boss you could have and a very nice man. He liked everybody."

Though he never ran for office, Mirabella thrived in the local political scene, helping Sam run for and win a seat on the city council.

He was an avid supporter of the March of Dimes and participated in the Bayshore Boulevard walks every year.

He was one of the first season-ticket holders for the Buccaneers and attended all home games well into his 80s.

"We kept praying he would see them win the Super Bowl one time, and they finally did," his daughter, Santa Floyd, 66, said.

After retirement, he started a discussion group that met at El Pilon restaurant on MacDill Avenue. Old friends would discuss politics and Tampa as it used to be.

Besides son Morris and daughter Santa, he is survived by another son, Tony, his sister, Millie, his brother, Frank, eight grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

He shared 67 years with his wife, Salvadora Teresa Mirabella, who is now deceased.

"In all my life I never heard him say a bad word about anybody," Morris Mirabella said.

The family will receive friends Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. at the Boza & Roel funeral home, 4730 N. Armenia Ave. Services will follow.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Lifepath Hospice, whose members helped care for Mirabella during the last months of his life.

Reporter Stephen Hammill can be reached at (813) 865-1523 or at shammill@tampatrib.com.

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