Born in a tiny village in the mountains of Montenegro on August 28, 1932. At the age of 14, leaves home to attend school in what is today Czech Republic. Arrives in Zagreb, Croatia at the age of 19, where he gets a job at Chromos and attends night school. Marries Ivka Simic of Simici, Dalmatia (Croatia) on August 26, 1961. Daughter Ljiljana (Lily) born in 1962, son Mladen in 1963. Works at Chromos for the rest of his career as a chemical engineer, travelling on business extensively all over the country and abroad (trips to London, Denmark, Russia and Venice were especially memorable), while pursuing love of bowling and playing for the Chromos bowling team for many years. Takes many unforgettable summer trips across the country with his wife and children, to Montenegro and Dalmatia to visit extended family, always eager to show them the beauty of the country they lived in. In the early 70's, buys a small piece of land in the village of Veljun, a stone's throw from the beautiful river of Korana, about 80 km from Zagreb. Here he builds a weekend house where over the next decades he spends much of his free time, with family and friends or by himself, always building, always digging, always fixing things, or just relaxing, making "rostilj" (barbecue), taking a dip in Korana, planting a garden. Retires in 1991, and for the next 19 years, enjoys retirement fully: for a few years, spending several months out of each year in Munich, Germany, working at an old friends' grocery store, spending summers travelling to Montenegro and Dalmatia for extended family visits, taking care of summer house, and most of all, enjoying the time spent with two granddaughters born and living in USA during their (always too short) visits. Becomes ill in spring of 2010, soon thereafter diagnosed with advanced and inoperable bile duct cancer. Dies May 14th, 2010 at home, surrounded by his wife and children. Known to all by the nickname Monte, he was a beloved husband and father, a gentle and loving grandfather, a devoted brother and uncle, a true friend, a person who always kept promises and was on your side, someone who always lent a helping hand, who loved life deeply and always saw a bright side to everything, someone whose optimism and booming laughter always filled a room, who enjoyed good food, good wine, good music, his afternoon naps, and who loved his mountains with all his heart.
