I am seeking assistance in diagnosis of an issue with a relative's Asian pear tree.  I know there are very knowledgeable folks here when it comes to fruit trees.

The tree in question is located in Windsor, Ontario (right next to Detroit, MI) and have had fruited for several years until recently. It had never been treated/sprayed. Earlier this year, soon after the blossom, the owner noticed that the leaves started drying up and falling off. The small fruits also started drying up but hanging on to the tree branches. I have enclosed some photos (please see link before) that were retaken recently. He has asked me to find out what the issue is and the solution is (if the tree is still alive).

Thanks advance for the help.

I don't live in the same city but I could get more info if required.

https://flic.kr/s/aHskMMFXYK

http://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7414.html

Fire blight has been on the increase last 2 years in Niagara. 
My Bartlet and Bosc pears that have never showed symptoms before had several branches hit by blight last year.  I cut the branches off and burnt them and I didn't see any recurrence this year.
For mild cases you can cut off the infected areas and it helps a lot. 
Best solution is getting fire blight resistant cultivars.

How long ago did they add the landscaping stones and mulch around the tree, did it decline a year or two after?  They look more recent than the rest of the cement blocks. Raising the grade that much on most trees will kill them. A tree that size should not look like a telephone pole coming out of the ground. Some of the flair should be exposed. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/07/AR2006060700521.html

<< Best solution is getting fire blight resistant cultivars. >

That was my conclusion, as well.  I'll let commercial growers deal with susceptible cultivars. 

I want no more than 2-3 pear trees, so I planted the European variety Harrow Sweet last spring; and I just ordered another European variety Warren for next spring.  But I couldn't find any Asian variety that seemed highly resistant.  Does anybody have any suggestions?

FWIW, I did the same with apples (Liberty, Enterprise).  I figure that if one tree gets sick, the odds of an infection of the others skyrockets.  So the entire community needs to be resistant.

Thanks guys for the great info.  It does seem that Southern Ontario (where Windsor is located) have seen increasing fire blights infecting fruit trees in recent years (http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/crops/facts/fireblight.htm).  I would simply select a fire flight resistant cultivar if I am to plant a new tree.

Special thank to AltaFarm for the linked article.  I have learnt something new today.  I also mulch my small young trees around the bases with cedar chips.  I'll get the owner to remove those heavy mulch around that pear tree (if it's alive).