Anthony "Tony" J. Alexander

Anthony "Tony" Joseph Alexander, 93, of Cambridge passed away on December 1, 2012 at Chesapeake Woods Center. He was born in Baltimore on December 14, 1918 and was a son of the late Joseph and Anelia Glodeck Alexander.

He was a graduate of Mt. St. Joseph's High School class of 1937 and later attended the Peabody Conservatory of Music. He spent five years with the Army Band in the European Theater of War. Mr. Alexander was acting 1st Sgt. and assistant conductor of the 175th Infantry 29th Division Band and was leader of the fifteen piece Dance Band. He served in Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland and Central Europe Campaigns and was a recipient of the French Medal Award for D Day participation. While studying at the Peabody Conservatory, he met Evelyn Willing, who was also a student and they were married in 1948. While in Baltimore after the war, he worked for five years as an X-Ray Technician and played in Dance Bands, the Baltimore Municipal Band and as a substitute trumpet player with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. They moved to Cambridge in 1950 and with his wife Evelyn, opened The Alexander Music Shop and eventually had stores in Cambridge, Easton and Salisbury. He organized and taught the school bands of South Dorchester and Preston High Schools in their first years of band activity. Mr. Alexander was a former director of the Cambridge Municipal Band and leader of the "Music Men" dance band who performed on the Western Shore, Ocean City and Rehoboth as well as locally. He was choir director at St. Mary Refuge of Sinners Catholic Church for several years. He was a member of the Cambridge Country Club for 50 consecutive years, where he served as golf chairman, entertainment chairman and president. He also served on the Chesapeake College Music Board of Directors for several years and also was a member of the 29th Infantry Division.

He is survived by his wife Evelyn Alexander of Cambridge, two sons William Alexander and wife Faye of Fruitland and Robert Alexander and wife Brenda of Royal Oak, two granddaughters Victoria Alexander and Melissa Faulkner and two grandsons John Alexander and wife Melissa and Mark Alexander, a great grandson Braiden Alexander, a nephew Edward Alexander, Jr., and a niece Joyce Hranicka. Besides his parents, Mr. Alexander is preceded in death by a daughter Teresa Alexander and a brother Edward Alexander.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, December 6, 2012 at 11 a.m. at St. Mary Refuge of Sinners with Father William Lawler officiating. Interment will be private. Family will receive friends from 10:30 to 11:00 a.m. at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to St. Mary Refuge of Sinners Catholic Church, P.O. Box 218, Cambridge, MD 21613. Arrangements are in the care of the Thomas Funeral Home, P.A. in Cambridge.