Alexander T. Mak

1963 - 2024

News story
By Mike Sigov
Blade Staff Writer

Alexander T. Mak, a longtime associate director of Ritter Planetarium and Brooks Observatory at the University of Toledo, died June 4 at ProMedica Toledo Hospital. He was 61.

He had heart issues, said Caroline Mak, his wife of nearly 26 years.

Mr. Mak retired in June, 2021, after about 32 years with the university, first as assistant director and then associate director of the university planetarium and observatory. Before that, he worked at the planetarium and observatory while a UT student in the 1980s, as a teaching assistant to an astronomy professor.

The planetarium "was more than a job for him," said Michael Cushing, professor of astronomy and director of the Ritter Planetarium and Brooks Observatory. "He was the foundation and the heart and soul of the planetarium for over 30 years."

Mr. Mak had trained scores of undergraduate and graduate students in the planetarium sciences, worked through three directors and an interim director, and kept the planetarium open through financial ups and downs, Mr. Cushing said.

The facility's assistant director, Heidi Westrick, said Mr. Mak was also "an amazing mentor."

"He helped any student who came through, even if they were a complete challenge," Ms. Westrick said. "He helped many of us get into the planetarium fields. And he remained a mentor even outside the UT."

Mr. Mak was also assistant director of UT's Science, Mathematics, and Technology Education Center for a time in the 1990s.

Additionally, he was an instructor for the university's Support Program for International Competency in Astronomy, a program in astronomy education, from 1990 to 1993.

"He absolutely loved astronomy, and he loved teaching anyone interested in studying the sky, young or old," Mrs. Mak said. "He was very passionate about continuing his own education and about helping others learn."

Over the years, Mr. Mak had hosted many public events, at UT and beyond, popularizing rare astronomical events such as comets making close approaches to Earth.

Those included Shoemaker-Levy 9, which in July, 1994, hit Jupiter with 31 fragments, one of which released an explosive force of 40 million megatons. The impacts started July 16 and ended on July 22.

"Comets are litterbugs. They are the litterbugs of the solar system," said Mr. Mak when he spoke to Rotarians during their luncheon meeting in August, 1994, about the weeklong bombardment of Jupiter by mountain-sized comet fragments.

Mr. Mak showed color slides as he explained some of the technical characteristics of the comets and shared his excitement.

"The days leading up to the impacts [on Jupiter] were really exciting for us [at the observatory], because we were trying to figure out what was going to happen," Mr. Mak said, as reported by The Blade at the time.

He noted that should a comet come heading toward Earth, little could be done.

"Not only could we not do anything, we might likely make things worse," he said. If we tried to blow up an approaching comet, the fragments "probably would do more damage than any single hit could possibly do," he said.

In 1998, Mr. Mak wrote a script for Santa's Secret Star, an original fulldome-planetarium production of the University of Toledo FullDome Studio, which still runs at the planetarium during the holiday season. It takes viewers on a magical trip through the Earth's starry sky.

Santa's Secret Star pulls children into Santa Claus' world as he and Rudolph struggle to find their way home after their Christmas gift deliveries. Santa and Rudolph find help in the guiding lights, and that means the children learn a map of the night sky.

"Everybody loves Santa. Everybody loves Rudolph. It is an adventure for kids to see how he does what he does. Then all of a sudden a beloved character is in trouble. So the kids are hoping and rallying for Santa," Mr. Mak told The Blade in December, 2015.

Mr. Mak was a longtime member of the Great Lakes Planetarium Association and a recipient of its 2021 award.

Born June 1, 1963, in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, to Rose and Tibor Mak, he was raised in greater Cleveland, graduating from Lakewood High School in Lakewood, Ohio, a suburb of Cleveland. He later graduated from UT with a bachelor's degree.

In his free time, he liked to travel with his wife, Caroline. They visited 49 states and 11 countries in Europe and the Caribbean, where they enjoyed outdoor activities.

His other interests included history and politics, Mrs. Mak said.

Mr. Mak was also a Cleveland Guardians fan.

He was preceded by his father, Tibor Mak.

Surviving are his wife of nearly 26 years, Caroline Mak, and mother, Rose Mak.

Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at Walker Funeral Home, Sylvania, where visitation will resume at 1 p.m. Saturday, immediately followed by services at 2 p.m.

The family suggested tributes to the planetarium.