In Memory

Buddy Ajalat (Music)

Buddy Ajalat (Music)

Buddy S. Ajalat

 
April 12, 1930 - November 2, 2017
Obituary
 
AJALAT, Buddy S, of River Vale, NJ, passed away on Thursday, November 2nd, 2017. Buddy is survived by his beloved wife of 55 years Carole; his children Audrey and her husband Jeffrey, Susan and her husband Charlie and Peter and his wife Laurie; his grandchildren Lucy, Chloe, Caroline, PJ and Michael; his brother Dick; his sisters in-law Barbara and her husband Bernie, Leila and her husband Kevin and Fran; his nieces Elizabeth and her husband Michael and Kate and her fiancé Michael; his great niece Saidy and many cousins. He is predeceased by his daughter April. Everyone who knew Buddy Ajalat loved him. He was a man of boundless energy, talent and creativity. He was generous, loving and devoted his life to his family, friends and students with equal commitment. He left no one untouched by his spirit and love. As a young child, Buddy already showed amazing musical talent. At 13 years old, demonstrating a beautiful tenor voice, Buddy was a featured vocalist on the Major Bowes radio show and later performed with the USO. Buddy served as a Sergeant in the U.S. Army and was a soloist with the 7th Army Symphony. He received his B.S. at Johns Hopkins University and a Bachelor's in Music and Music Education from the Peabody Conservatory. Following these, he earned a Master of Music and Music Education at Penn State University. Buddy served as President of the NJ Music Educators Association in 1977 and President of the Music Educators National Conference, Eastern Division, in 1983. In 1985, Buddy received the NJ Governor's Award in Arts Education. While Buddy's professional accomplishments were important, teaching always remained his first love. He was the quintessential educator. He demonstrated untiring devotion to all of his students, encouraging them to do their best and to reach for excellence; and in return, students loved him, carrying his encouragement and the love of music with them for the rest of their lives. "Buddy, Buddy, Buddy," they would chant after every concert he directed, until Buddy reluctantly appeared on stage to receive their standing ovation. Buddy produced musicals, concerts and recitals that are too numerous to mention. He gave all students an opportunity to perform, including a concert choir goodwill tour behind the "Iron Curtain" in 1972. Long after he had retired, students returned to express their appreciation for what Buddy had done for them. After a few years of teaching at Bogota High School in the beginning of his career, most of Buddy's teaching career was spent at Northern Highlands Regional High School, where he was supervisor of Fine and Performing Arts. He was proud to be inducted into the NHRHS Hall of Fame in 2016. It wasn't easy for Buddy to retire, so after he left teaching in the public schools, he promptly resumed teaching at the Academy of Holy Angels. There, Buddy was as committed to excellence as ever. Everyone was capable of achieving their best and he would insist on this. He taught piano to his youngest grandchild until the week he died, and all of his grandchildren depended on his guidance and approval in their artistic endeavors. Music was Buddy's central focus, but he had so many other interests that were life-long passions. First and foremost, he loved his family and friends fiercely. He never missed a family gathering or any performance by one of his grandchildren. Buddy traveled extensively with his wife Carole, not for the scenery of exotic places, but to inundate himself in the culture and the people of a place. Of course, there was opera, the arts, the theatre. Buddy and Carole attended opera and Broadway regularly. And finally, Buddy made sure to keep current with football and baseball, as well as wine, recently becoming involved in a wine-producing project with other members of his family. Buddy Ajalat has left a remarkable legacy for his children and grandchildren. He had a dynamic, uncompromising personality that was bigger than his many talents. His joy in life was obvious to anyone who heard his robust laugh echo across the room. Those of us who are left behind think of him as a force of life, touching not just our hearts and minds, but those of the scores of students he taught over 50 years. We, his family, will never forget him or stop loving him. We will miss you dearly, Buddy. There is no one who will ever take your place. The family will receive guests at Becker Funeral Home, 219 Kinderkamack Rd, Westwood, NJ on Monday, November 6th from 4-8PM. A Funeral of Divine Liturgy will be held at St. Anthony Orthodox Church in Bergenfield, NJ on Tuesday, November 7th at 10AM with interment at Brookside Cemetery in Englewood, NJ to follow. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital .



 
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11/08/17 03:52 PM #1    

David Beach Clarke, Jr.

Hi, all,

I was so sad to see news of Buddy Ajalat's death.  He was a treasure--to those of us he taught, to those with whom he shared his love of music, and certainly to his family.  Thanks so much to Nancy for posting the obituary.  But his friends and admirers might also want to visit the online obituary where are posted many comments from former students at Northern Highland HS where Buddy spent most of his career, as well as 250 photos!  It difficult to read his obit and see him in hundreds of photos with family and friends and not quickly sense that his was a life wonderfully lived:  with love, passion, dedication, and (some) humility.  I'll miss him and feel so grateful to have spoken with him and Carole at our reunion in 2015. 

Here the link to the online obit:

http://obits.dignitymemorial.com/dignity-memorial/obituary.aspx?n=Buddy-Ajalat&lc=4025&pid=187140204&mid=7625385

With sadness,

David Clarke


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