Michael Robert Molnar

Loving Husband, Wonderful Father and a True Renaissance Man

On February 7, 2023, Michael Robert Molnar died peacefully at home in Warren, NJ. Shelley, his wife of 47 years, was by his side. The family is very grateful to the dedicated staff at Memorial Sloan Kettering and Compassionate Care Hospice for making Mike's final days as comfortable as possible.

The son of the late Charles and Sophie Molnar, Mike grew up in Paramus, graduating from Paramus High School in 1963 and from Bucknell University in 1967. Although his thesis was destroyed by the 1970 bombing at the University of Wisconsin, he was still able to complete his PhD in Astrophysics in January of 1971. He went on to perform postdoctoral work at the University of Colorado in Boulder and The Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt Maryland. While at Goddard he worked on NASA's Orbiting Astronomical Observatory (OAO). Mike was a professor of Astronomy at the University of Toledo when he met his wife Shelley, in 1975.

Mike decided to leave the academic world, after receiving tenure, for a career in industry, moving to Houston, Texas in 1979. Between 1979 and his retirement in 2004, Mike demonstrated his versatility and adaptability by working in a variety of industries: medical instruments, downhole drilling, research and development, and he briefly returned to academia. Some of the organizations included Schlumberger, Bell Labs, Rutgers University, PR Newswire, Molnar Tools and the Chubb Institute.

After their son Gregory was born in Houston in 1980, Mike and Shelley decided to move closer to their families, so they relocated to New Jersey in 1983. They have lived in Warren, New Jersey for 39 years.

During his 77 years on earth, Mike loved to apply his wonderful analytical mind to history and art, getting lost in his desire to unlock the deepest secrets of humanity. His insatiable curiosity and his fascination with Roman history, ancient coins and astronomy culminated in his book "The Star of Bethlehem, The Legacy of the Magi". Published by Rutgers University Press in 1999, it has been described as the best explanation of what appeared in the skies during the time that Christians believe marked the birth of Christ. His book has been reprinted in several languages. During Christmas and Easter, his interviews with the BBC, CNN, Fox News, and the Discovery Channel have been frequently rebroadcast.

After his retirement from The Chubb Institute in 2004, Mike's hobbies and interests blossomed into a renewed joie de vivre punctuated by violin making, writing, traveling and satisfying his love for animals by watching the creatures that visited his back yard. Over the past 20 years, he dedicated his life to uncovering the secrets of violin making, utilizing novel varnishes and computer-aided techniques to push the boundaries of what was considered possible. When he wasn't busy reinventing the violin world, Mike and Shelley would travel the actual world, successfully visiting all seven continents. Their favorite trips, however were to Antarctica, Yellowstone, Puerto Vallarta and Northern California because they were accompanied by their beloved son, Greg.

Despite being accomplished in so many areas, Mike felt his most important achievements were his relationships with family and friends. He was a fantastic husband to Shelley Tchorz Molnar, and an amazing father to his son, Gregory Charles Molnar, of San Francisco, California.

He is survived by his siblings Charles Molnar Jr., Claire Molnar, and Audrey Molnar Mostrowski, brothers-in-law, Victor Mostrowski and Bill Brown, husband of the late Kathleen Molnar Brown, and sister-in-law Nina Bell. He had a warm and loving relationship with his father-in-law Len Tchorz and sisters-in-law Susan Tchorz, Fanny Tchorz and the late Sandra King. His numerous nieces and nephews and grand nieces and nephews will sorely miss Uncle Mike.

Mike particularly valued the many friendships he established at the Somerset Hills YMCA and The Neighbors and Newcomers Club of Watchung Hills.

A celebration of Mike's life will be planned for the fall of 2023. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to your favorite charity, Memorial Sloan Kettering or The Somerset Hills YMCA.