Alexander J. Banes

Alex Banes passed away peacefully on August 2, 2026, following a brief illness. He was 91 years old.

Alex was born on January 20, 1935, in McKeesport, Pennsylvania, the son of Hungarian immigrants. He was one of three siblings, growing up with his sisters, Jane and Betty.

From an early age, Alex was naturally curious and fascinated by radios, phonographs, and anything powered by electricity. He was also a talented artist. At just 15 years old, he began his first job at a local advertising agency, where he created a variety of graphic advertisements for local businesses.

While in high school, Alex met his future wife, Ann. They married in October 1955 and soon began building their life together. Rather than follow the traditional path of working in the steel mills, Alex chose to pursue his education. He attended the University of Pittsburgh for a year before being accepted to Drexel University in Philadelphia, where he majored in Electrical Engineering.

Alex and Ann packed up their belongings and moved to Philadelphia. While Alex was attending college, they welcomed their two children, David and Suzanne. Alex graduated from Drexel in 1960 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering, beginning what would become a long and successful career in the electrical power equipment industry.

In the early years of his career, Alex worked for Westinghouse Electric and ITE, initially as an engineer before discovering that his talents and interests were particularly well suited to sales and marketing. In 1966, he accepted a position with McGraw-Edison in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, prompting the family to return to western Pennsylvania. Alex eventually advanced to the position of Sales Manager, but his career would soon take an exciting new direction.

In late 1978, Alex accepted the position of Vice President of Sales and Marketing at G&W Electric in Blue Island, Illinois. The company had recently been purchased by Jack Mueller and was undergoing a period of change and growth. Jack entrusted Alex with rebuilding and revitalizing the company’s Sales and Marketing organization. Through Alex’s leadership, determination, and collaboration with many talented colleagues, G&W Electric began a significant transformation and established a strong foundation for future success.

At the time, G&W sold its products through a combination of direct sales and independent manufacturers’ representatives. Alex was impressed by the entrepreneurial nature of the representatives he worked with and decided to pursue that path himself. With Jack Mueller’s support, Alex moved to Southern California and, in 1983, founded Banes Associates in Orange County.

Banes Associates steadily grew as Alex added new manufacturers to the company’s portfolio while continuing to represent G&W Electric. In 1986, Alex invited his son, David, to join the business. Father and son worked side by side for many years, building the company and developing lasting relationships throughout the electrical utility industry.

One of Alex’s most important accounts was Southern California Edison (SCE). He worked tirelessly through challenging periods between SCE and G&W Electric, developing strong relationships with SCE engineers, purchasing personnel, and other key decision-makers. His persistence, professionalism, and commitment to earning their trust ultimately helped create an important milestone for both companies.

By 1996, G&W Electric had a new leader, John Mueller, Jack’s son. Together, Alex and John worked to secure G&W’s first five-year sole-supplier agreement with Southern California Edison for switchgear. It was a significant accomplishment, requiring years of dedication from both G&W Electric and Banes Associates to demonstrate that SCE had made the right choice. The partnership proved highly successful, with G&W Electric and Banes Associates receiving SCE’s “Best Supplier” recognition multiple times. The relationship has continued for nearly 30 years, a testament to the foundation Alex helped build.

In 2009, Alex turned over the day-to-day management of Banes Associates to his son, David. He continued coming into the office and contributing to the business well into his 80s before finally retiring.

Those who knew Alex will remember his outgoing personality, infectious smile, quick sense of humor, and love of a good joke. He enjoyed making people laugh and never missed an opportunity to have a good time.

Alex’s passions extended well beyond his career. He was a devoted Pittsburgh Steelers fan, enjoyed football, golf, and music, and looked forward to a gin martini on Friday evenings. He loved discovering and listening to all types of music and, over the years, built an impressive collection of vinyl records and CDs.

Alex will be remembered for his curiosity, entrepreneurial spirit, determination, humor, and devotion to his family. He is survived by his beloved wife, Ann; his daughter, Suzanne; and his son, David.

In accordance with Alex’s wishes, there are no plans for a service at this time.