Pamela Fair Makara
Pamela Fair Makara, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, aunt, cousin and friend, died Sunday morning, Aug. 25, 2019. Born in 1931, she was 88 years old.
A highly respected educator and a student of ancient history, Pam graduated from Wayne State University (B.A.) in the 1950s with a degree in education and from Ohio State University (M.A.) in the early 1990s with a degree in classical studies at the age of 61.
Pam held various teaching jobs throughout her life but worked primarily as a fifth grade teacher and mentor to students and fellow colleagues at South Main Elementary School in Bowling Green, Ohio, a job she sustained for 25 years. In this capacity she creatively contributed to her school community with varied student-based classroom projects, student field trips to Greenfield Village, and yearly Carnival fairs. She received her school Teacher of the Year award for her dedication to students and classroom expertise and received the Jennings Scholar award for her outstanding classroom teaching and her ability to foster and develop the individual capabilities of young people.
In addition to the above accomplishments, Pam was a writer, painter, talented flower arranger, avid traveler and consummate hostess, organizing and beautifully presenting numerous post-concert receptions, celebrations, dinners and New Year’s Day gatherings at her home for musicians, family and friends.
For most of her adult life, during the summer, Pam also hosted post-concert receptions for the Lake Placid Sinfonietta in Lake Placid at the Lake Placid Center for the Arts. She also supported musical activities at Bowling Green State University through her attendance at many concerts and through serving on the board of Pro Musica and as a member of the Carillon Society and, in addition, regularly patronized the Toledo Symphony and the Toledo Opera.
She is survived by her daughter Christina Biron (Ron) of Dartmouth, Massachusetts; son Michael Makara (Pam) of Billings, Montana; grandson Ray Paul Biron of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates; and brother-in-law Dan Wells of Stillwater, Oklahoma.
A funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 12 at St. Agnes Church, Lake Placid. Burial will be in St. Agnes Catholic Cemetery followed by a luncheon at a place to be determined. A celebration of Pam’s life will also be held in Bowling Green, Ohio, at a later date.
Contributions in honor of Pam can be sent to the Paul Makara Scholarship Fund at the Bowling Green State University College of Musical Arts, the Toledo Symphony, the Toledo Opera, the Lake Placid Sinfonietta or the Humane Society.
Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.mbclarkfuneralhome.com. The M.B. Clark Inc. Funeral Home in Lake Placid is in charge of arrangements.