November 25, 2002
Radoslav Kovacevic, 79, an architect who designed dozens of churches during a 50-year career in the Chicago area, died Friday, Nov. 22, of heart failure in Northwestern Memorial Hospital.
Born in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, he fled to Austria with his anti-Communist parents before the end of World War II. There he received a Ph.D. in architecture before moving to Chicago in 1950 to begin a career with the firm of Shaw, Metz & Dolio, said his wife, Milka.
Five years later he became an American citizen and obtained his license in architecture, which allowed him to manage several architecture partnerships before opening a solo practice. He moved to an apartment in the cutting-edge Marina City while it was under construction and was joined by his wife after their 1964 wedding. He lived there until his death.
Mr. Kovacevic designed about two dozen houses of worship for Russian, Greek, Serbian, Protestant and Roman Catholic congregations. His last project was the yellow brick St. Archangel Michael Serbian Orthodox Church in Lansing, which was consecrated last year. “He has created a worshiping space that breathes, which is not that common in Orthodox architecture,”said Rev. Milos Vesin, St. Archangel Michael’s pastor.
Mr. Kovacevic also designed schools and commercial and industrial buildings. Visitation will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Monday in Muzyka & Son Funeral Home, 5776 W. Lawrence Ave., Chicago. Services will be held at 7:30 p.m. in the chapel. Mass will be said at 10 a.m. Tuesday in Holy Resurrection Serbian Orthodox Cathedral, 5701 N. Redwood Drive, Chicago.
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