Alex Macar, 87, of Tampa, returned home to the Lord on February 7, 2015. He was born April 30, 1927, to Alexander and Rose (Kurmay) Macar in Ralph, PA. A lifelong professional musician, Alex performed clarinet and saxophone in the military band during his service in the mid-1940s, and was tapped to lead the U.S. Air Force Band as Band Director in Tokyo, Japan. In 1949, he married his wife of 63 years, Evelyn, with whom he performed jazz and popular dance music for nearly six decades. Alex also worked for U.S. Steel in Uniontown, Pennsylvania, until the late-1950s when he became the proprietor of the "Wishing Well" nightclub and restaurant, which he and Evelyn operated and performed at until 1969.

In 1970, Alex relocated to Tampa, FL, with Evelyn and their four children. He and Evelyn performed as a duo in various Tampa Bay area establishments before opening their own jazz venues, "Smart Alex" in 1975, and "Maestro's" in 1981. After retiring from the nightclub business in 1990, Alex continued to perform periodically at local establishments and private events until 2012.

Alex was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers, Ernest Macar and John Macar, and sisters Helen (Macar) Postlethweight and Jeanne (Macar) Hoone and granddaughter Gina Balistreri. He is survived by his daughter, Suzi (Macar) Balistreri, sons Robert and wife Robin, Richard and wife Amy, and Alex V. Macar; grandsons Matthew, Kevin, Alex, Gregory and Jeffrey Macar; and granddaughters Maggie and Lily Macar.

A wake service will be held Thursday, February 12, from 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m., at MacDonald Funeral Home, 10520 N. Florida Ave., Tampa. A funeral Mass will be held Friday, February 13, 10:30 a.m., at St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church, 15520 North Boulevard, Tampa. Family will visit with friends 30 minutes prior to the funeral.

In lieu of flowers, contributions to the "University of Tampa Jazz Ensemble" can be mailed with the notation "In memory of Alex Macar" to Development and University Relations, The University of Tampa, 401 W. Kennedy Blvd., Box H, Tampa, FL 33606.

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MacDonald Funeral Home

Lowell J MacDonald

Funeral Director & Owner