Dr. Dusan M. Zivkovic, 77, born on February 17, 1933 in Beograd, Serbia to Momcilo and Radmila Zivkovic, passed into eternal life in River Forest on Tuesday, February 15, 2011. Dearly beloved husband of Zorica, loving father of Zoran Zivkovic and Susanne (Ivan) Vasic, proud grandfather of Marija and Dusan Zivkovic and Aleksandar and Katarina Vasic. Dr. Dusan Zivkovic practiced obstetrics and gynecology. He will be deeply missed by family, friends and relatives in the US and Serbia and by all who knew him. Memory Eternal. Opelo (Serbian Orthodox Funeral Service) Friday, February 18, 1 p.m. at at the Holy Resurrection Serbian Orthodox Cathedral, 5701 N Redwood Drive in Chicago. Interment New Gracanica Monastery, Third Lake. Donations to the Holy Resurrection Serbian Orthodox Cathedral appreciated. ***** Dusan M. Zivkovic was born to Momcilo and Radmila Zivkovic on February 17, 1933 in Belgrade, Serbia. He was the oldest of two sons. His younger brother, Miodrag, was 7 years his junior. Dusan enjoyed school, was an excellent student and took great pleasure in reading. He was also active in sports, competing in the steeple chase for the Partizans sports club. In medical school he played soccer for the medical school soccer team. In the summer of 1952 he met his future wife Zorica Ilic, who was 16 at the time. They fell in love and two years later, on August 19, 1954, the day after Zorica’s 18th birthday, and at the start of his third year of medical school, they eloped. Seven years later, on June 7, 1962 their first child, Zoran was born. On November 15, 1963, with ten dollars in their pockets, a few diapers and essentially the clothes on their backs, Dusan, Zorica and Zoran Zivkovic arrived in the United States. For a few months they lived with Zorica’s father Dobrivoje Ilic and his wife on the south side of Chicago. Soon thereafter, he made contact with two friends he knew from Belgrade, Dr. Punisa Lekovic and Dr. Ilija Sreckovic, which led to him working at St. Bernard’s Hospital, where they all worked together. Later they were joined by Drs. Misa and Dragana Cupic. Dusan and Zorica forged friendships with these and many other wonderful and dear friends who had also immigrated from Serbia. Their friends were numerous, but each and every one was very dear to him. On April 15, 1966, his daughter Susanne was born. Dusan completed both his internship and residency in obstetrics and gynecology at Mercy Hospital. By 1971 he completed his specialty and state boards. Soon thereafter, he joined a medical practice and worked at Columbus Hospital. He also practiced at several other hospitals, including Martha Washington Hospital, Illinois Masonic, Thorek and Edgewater Hospital. In 1972 the Zivkovic family moved from Chicago to River Forest, where Dusan continued to raise his family. Dusan Zivkovic led a long and rewarding career as an obstetrician and gynecologist, taking early retirement in 1996 because of his health. He loved his work and taking care of his patients. Dusan was the proud grandfather of four grandchildren. His first grandchild, Aleksandar Vasic, was born on October 6, 1994 at Columbus Hospital while Dusan was still practicing there and he witnessed his grandson’s birth. Aleksandar’s birth was followed just four months later by the birth of Dusan’s first granddaughter, Marija Zivkovic who was born in Belgrade Serbia on February 8, 1995. His youngest granddaughter, Katarina Vasic was born on July 18, 1997, which birth he also witnessed. His youngest grandchild and namesake, Dushan Zivkovic was born on March 2, 2001. He was an active grandparent, helping with school work, driving the children to their activities and babysitting. He loved to talk with his grandchildren, learn their interests, discuss various topics, and share his good humor with them. Dusan took great pleasure in many things. He had a passion for classical music, loved to read works of non-fiction covering an array of topics, and enjoyed golf and socializing with friends. He had a natural curiosity and was always studying something and expanding his knowledge. He loved the English language and took interest in studying words and their roots. He also liked to memorize Latin phrases. He was a member of many organizations: Serbian Academic Club, Serbian Brother’s Help, Serbian National Federation, and the Serbian American Medical and Dental Association. He was one of the founding members of United Serbs, a soccer club and served as its first president. He also served a term as vice-president on the church board of Holy Resurrection Serbian Orthodox Cathedral. He was an active member of the Serbian American community, attended many functions and contributed to many causes and organizations. He was an exceptional man, a good Serb, loving husband, caring father and grandfather, trusted friend, and respected doctor. Though his family feels a deep and profound sense of loss with his passing, they feel blessed and honored to have had such a special person in their lives. He will live on in their hearts. They also feel blessed and honored for the amazing people who have been a part of his life. ***