James Edward Haar Ph.D.

1929 - 2018

James Edward Haar, Ph.D.

Chapel Hill

James Edward Haar, Ph.D., died of infirmities on September 15, 2018, after a long battle with dementia. Mr. Haar, a native St. Louisan, was born on July 4, 1929. He was the son of the late Marie Z. Haar and George B. Haar, and dear brother of the late Rev. George B. Haar and Nancy Haar McKee (Paul). He was also the loving uncle of Christopher L. McKee of Sanford, Florida, Jonathan D. McKee (Linda) of Kirkwood, MO, and the late Sarah B. McKee; great uncle of Allison Carlisle (Robert), Erin, Brendan and Gregory McKee, and friend to many around the world.

Mr. Haar was a graduate of Harvard University (B.A. and Ph.D), and The University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill (M.A.). An internationally respected musicologist, Mr. Haar was a co-founder of the Journal of the American Musicology Association, the author of four books on the High Renaissance music, art and poetry, and 16th Century madrigals, as well as author/editor of numerous scholarly articles and reviews. In 1987 he was inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

As a consummate professor and mentor to students, known for his breadth of knowledge and ready wit, Mr. Haar's academic career included faculty positions at Harvard University, The University of Pennsylvania, New York University, and most recently, 35 years at The University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, where he occupied the Keenan Chair for the Humanities in the Music Department.

Service: Private Catholic graveside rite of interment for family and close friends will be held at a later date at St. Peter Cemetery in Kirkwood. Memorial contributions may be made to the St. Louis Symphony, Powell Hall, 718 North Grand Boulevard, St. Louis, MO 63103, or Catholic Relief Services (CRS) at 228 West Lexington Street, Baltimore, MD 21201. The family of Mr. Haar expresses their thanks to the compassionate nursing and hospice staff of Bethesda Dilworth and St. Louis Cremation Services.