Tibor Paul Mazar

Tibor Paul Mazar (TEE-bore MAY-zarr) of Blytheville, passed away on Good Friday, March 29, 2024, in Memphis, Tenn., surrounded by loved ones and his caregivers. He was 81 years old.

Born Sept. 3, 1942 in Budapest, Hungary, Tibor’s life was one of adventure, creativity and service. After immigrating to Edison, N.J., to join his mother Evelyn, “Tibi” enjoyed family gatherings in the vibrant company of his extended family and making movies and crafting special effects with his wildly creative childhood and college buddies. His early interests in film and technology, and his gift for the written word, inspired his multifaceted career:

Following his graduation from Rutgers University, Tibor was commissioned as a 1st Lieutenant in the United States Air Force and embarked on several adventures that encouraged his lifelong love of travel and education. He studied communications at Boston University as part of his military training and served on Okinawa. While working as a missileer in Great Falls, Mont., Tibor met his future wife, Jill Minckler. The couple honeymooned in Asia and then, along with their daughter Laura, reported to the great unknown: Eaker Air Force Base in Blytheville, Ark. The Arkansas Delta along the Mississippi River became the family’s permanent home base for over 45 years. Later in life, while a Lt. Colonel in the Air Force Reserves, Tibor spent time at SAC Headquarters in Omaha, Neb., and served as a public affairs officer at The Pentagon during Operation Desert Storm.

While in service, Tibor honed his skills as a professional photographer and entrepreneur. In the 1970s, unable to find camera film near Blytheville, he was inspired to open The Photo Bug. Represented by a distinctive ladybug logo, the company grew to include three locations (Blytheville and Jonesboro, Ark., and Memphis, Tenn.) and was synonymous with quality service and innovation. Tibor had a knack for staying ahead of tech trends and over the decades his shop (later called The Depot) served as Blytheville’s first camera equipment, film processing, VHS rental, computer sales and repair, and internet provider. Tibor’s foresight and adaptability ensured the success of his business, and “Mr T.” was a role model and mentor to dozens of young employees until the company’s closure in 2021.

Outside of the office, Tibor was a man of varied hobbies and talents. An ardent supporter of the local arts scene, he served on the Blytheville Arts Council and the Arkansas Humanities Council, leaving an enduring impact on cultural life in the region. An active Blytheville Very Little Theatre (BVLT) member for many years, he once took to the stage in a memorable performance as Officer O’Hara in the company’s production of Arsenic and Old Lace. He also delighted in nurturing his daughters’ creativity, sharing his love of cinema and his extensive music collection with them, often fabricating elaborate costumes for them, and coaching his youngest daughter’s Odyssey of the Mind teams. T was a skilled craftsman who enjoyed both building furniture to outfit his Blytheville home and tinkering with his cars. He was a dedicated member of the Blytheville Cotton Classic Car Club and, after selling his beloved MG, T refurbished a 1974 Dodge Monaco creating a replica Bluesmobile. With his longtime friend Robert Charles, the duo performed as the Blues Brothers to thunderous applause from crowds at parades and car shows.

Born a Catholic, from a long line of Carpatho-Russian Orthodox priests, Tibor became a United Methodist later in life. He was a devout parishioner of the First United Methodist Church in Blytheville, where he was an active participant in the Faith Builders Sunday School class and a volunteer with the church’s youth group, accompanying them on several mission trips.

In a final act of service, Tibor donated his remains to the Genesis Whole Body Donation Program (meri.org). He will live on through vital organ donation and medical research.

Tibor is now reunited with his younger siblings, Peter and Althea Mazar, his beloved parents Evelyn and Stephen, and a host of friends and Mazar/Zapotocky family. Tibor is survived by his daughters, Laura (Mark) Meanwell of Germantown, Tenn., and Elizabeth (Matthew) Phillips of Framingham, Mass., and the girls’ mother, Jill Mazar of Blytheville. Grandpa T doted on and was beloved by his four grandchildren: Cameron and Jeremy Meanwell and Bronwyn and Grant Phillips.

The family wishes to thank T’s gifted caregivers, including Yvette Guyton of Blytheville and the nurses, CNAs and support team from both Allen Morgan Nursing Center and Comfort Keepers Home Care, as well as the Hospice team who attended to him in his final days.

In our Pop’s memory, please raise a cup of reheated black coffee, share a favorite album or film with a friend, rescue a feral neighborhood cat or two, regale your kids and grandkids with stunningly bad dad jokes, spend time nurturing your creativity, and hug your loved ones a little tighter in the coming days. In lieu of flowers, the family encourages friends and family to donate to the Lyon College School of Veterinary Medicine, the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, Blytheville FUMC, or a favorite charity of your choice.

The family will celebrate Tibor’s life in a trio of gatherings:

Friday, May 3, Allen Morgan Nursing Center, Memphis, Tenn., 10 a.m. Service for Caregivers

Saturday, May 4, First United Methodist Church, Blytheville, 10 a.m. Visitation; 11 a.m. Service; Noon Repast

Date TBD, Interment at Our Lady of Hungary Cemetery, Woodbridge, N.J.