NAJAR Leo Michael Najar aged 58 of Bay City formerly of Grand Rapids passed away unexpectedly from natural causes May 17 2011. Mr. Najar graduated from Ottawa Hills High School in 1971. As a teenager he was a member of the Grand Rapids Symphony Orchestra the Grand Rapids Youth Symphony and Grand Rapids Youth String Quartet. He received both his BA and MA in performance at the University of Michigan School of Music in Ann Arbor. In 2003 Mr. Najar founded The Bijou Orchestra and its parent company Bay Musical Arts Inc. In addition to his position as Music Director of The Bijou Orchestra Mr. Najar was Music Director of the Bay Concert Band and the Director of Music Ministry at First Presbyterian Church in Bay City. Prior to his work with The Bijou Orchestra Mr. Najar was Music Director of The Saginaw Bay Symphony Orchestra from 1980 to 2003. Over the course of his career he held artistic leadership positions in orchestras throughout the United States Europe and Central America. As a music teacher Mr. Najar served on the faculties of several major schools of music including the University of Michigan. He also taught at the National Music Camp at Interlochen the Bay View Festival and the Blue Lakes Fine Arts Camp. At the time of his death Mr. Najar was working on a musical adaptation of the best seller Einsteins Dreams. He was very involved with Bay Citys community development efforts as a member of the Downtown Management Board. He was a member of the Bay City Rotary Club and a Paul Harris Fellow. Mr. Najar was a dedicated advocate of the regional arts movement and instrumental to the cultural renaissance efforts in Bay City. He loved Michigan and the Great Lakes. His most beloved times were spent with family and friends on the waters of the Saginaw Bay. Mr. Najar was preceded in death by his mother Claire Elizabeth Najar. He is survived by his wife Regina Najar of Bay City father Ammiel G Najar Sr. of Grand Rapids and brother Ammiel of Los Angeles. He is also survived by step children John Engstrom Erik Engstrom Kathryn Turner and Andrew Turner. Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at St Paul the Apostle Church 2750 Burton SE Grand Rapids Msgr. Ernest Schneider presiding. He will be interred in the Entombment Resurrection Mausoleum. Rosary will be recited 4:00 PM Visitation 2-4 PM at OBrien-Eggebeen-Gerst Chapel 3980 Cascade Rd SE. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Bijou Orchestra P.O. Box 336 Bay City Michigan 48707
