Alex Frank Kadar, age 95, of Haddonfield, NJ, formerly of White Oak, PA, passed away on Monday, January 16, 2023. Al was born September 6, 1927, in McKeesport, PA, a second generation Hungarian American, and lived in McKeesport for 74 years. He graduated from McKeesport High School and served with the Third Army as a sergeant during World War II, receiving the unit’s Meritorious Service Award. He attended the University of Pittsburgh, where he was a member of Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity and graduated cum laude with a degree in Business Administration in 1949. He went on to earn a Master’s Degree from the University of Pittsburgh’s Katz School of Business in 1950. On his first day of graduate school at Pitt, he stood next to fellow student Margaret Gene Loudin, while lined up alphabetically for a class picture. After introducing themselves, Al treated Margaret Gene to coffee, and they were married 18 months later. They remained happily married for almost 70 years, until her death on January 26, 2021.
Al and Margaret Gene lived in White Oak Borough of McKeesport, where he was active in several local civic, religious, and social organizations, and partnered with his brother Richard in Kadar’s, a chain of six mens’ clothing stores in the Mon Yough area. In addition to raising 5 children, Al was well-known in business and educational circles as a lecturer and advisor, and a member of the American Association of University Professors, conducting classes in retail management, advertising, marketing, and salesmanship at the University of Pittsburgh, Robert Morris College, and the South Campus of the Community College of Allegheny County. He and Margaret Gene were lifelong members of the Transfiguration of Our Lord Byzantine Catholic Church in McKeesport, and enjoyed the beautiful outdoors around the Pittsburgh area, skiing in the winter and sailing in the warmer months. In 2001, Al and Margaret Gene closed their family business and moved to Haddonfield, New Jersey, to be close to their youngest son, Dr. Tom Kadar and his family.
In addition to his wife of 70 years, Al was preceded in death by his parents, Alex Joseph Kadar and Julia Pandy Kadar, and his brother Richard Kadar, his wife Grace, and their 3 children, Becky, John, and Jimmy. He is survived by 5 children and their spouses: daughter Kathy Kadar Ruge & Daniel Ruge; daughter Jo Kadar Proops & Michael Proops; son Howard “Todd” & Amy Kadar; son Ken & Donna Kadar; and son Dr. Tom & Lori Kadar. He is “Da” to 13 grandchildren: Laura Ruge Johnson & Trevor Johnson; Dr. Jessica Ruge Leggett & John Leggett; Dr. Kenny & Michelle Proops; Graham & Mary Elise Kadar; Natalie Kadar Bedinghaus & Matt Bedinghaus; Ethan & Taryn Testa Kadar; Blake Kadar; Taryn Kadar & Taylor Noland; Kenny & Gina Kadar; Juliana Kadar; Tommy Kadar; Alex Kadar; and Marlina Kadar, and to 14 great-grandchildren: Grayson, Gannon, Maggie, and May Johnson; Jackson and Andrew Leggett; Liam and Benett Proops; Jude Kadar; Isla and Greyson Bedinghaus, Hazel and Harlow Kadar; and Roman Kadar. He is also survived by one niece, Heather Kadar.
Family and friends are invited to celebrate his life on Saturday, January 21, 2023 from 8:30 a.m. until 9:30 a.m. at Strifflers of White Oak Cremation and Mortuary Services, Inc., 1100 Lincoln Way, White Oak, PA 15131 (Sue Striffler Galaski, supervisor, 412-678-6177). Divine Liturgy will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. at Saint Nicholas of Myra Byzantine Catholic Church, 410 6th Street, McKeesport, PA 15132 and will be livestreamed at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89398187310?pwd=K0x4UWhYK3JaZGs4dS80VEhzYjdPUT09 (the livestream link will open at 9:30 a.m. and the services will start promptly at 10:00 a.m.; meeting ID: 893 9818 7310; passcode: 000762). Burial will follow at McKeesport and Versailles Cemetery.
Haddonfield, NJ area services: A memorial mass celebrating the lives of Al and Margaret Kadar will be held on Sunday, January 29, 2023 at 1:00 p.m. at Christ the King Roman Catholic Church, 200 Windsor Avenue, Haddonfield, NJ 08033 and will be livestreamed at https://ctkhaddonfield.org/ (click Livestream).
Remembrances may be made in Al Kadar’s name at his request to the Community College of Allegheny County https://www.ccac.edu/ or to the White Oak Branch of the Carnegie Library of McKeesport https://mckeesportlibrary.org/.