All my life people have told me stories about my grandparents. It wasn’t until I was older that I realized their impact on the Serbian Community.

My Father's parents

Mitar Bulatovich (November 1915 - May 1981)

In the early days of World War ll, Mitar was approached and asked to be a courier, or a person who delivers documents. Because his father, Luka, was involved in politics in former Yugoslavia Mitar was later advised to leave the country. Mitar fled to Italy, and in 1948, he arrived in America. In 1955, Mitar he established the first Serbian Radio Program, called “Srpske Melodije,” (Serbian Melodies) which was broadcasted in Gary, Indiana. In 1958, he increased his program to seven days a week and became the only daily Serbian Radio Program, not only in America, but in the entire free world. Mitar wanted to ensure that the Serbian people living in America, knew what was happening in their homeland, communist Yugoslavia. Through his radio program, Mitar was able to inform the Serbian community about what was happening in the United States as well as their homeland.

Jovanka Bulatovich (May 1937 - December 1998)

After getting married and having children, Jovanka went back to school. She graduated from Northeastern University and received her degree in teaching. She taught at J. N. Throp Elementary School in Chicago, Illinois, for 25 years. While teaching in Illinois, Jovanka made time to teach tamburica, an Eastern European instrument. At the request of her church, she started to teach children how to play and soon a tamburica orchestra was created. Over a span of ten years, she taught elementary and high school students and enjoyed every minute of it. She also spent two years teaching Serbian Folklore dance at Saint Steven of Decani Serbian Orthodox Church where she also held the position of church treasurer.

My Mother's parents

Milica Komatovich (November 1924 - October 2010)

At 20 years old, Milica was married with a young boy and at age 21, she was widowed. Her husband was killed during World War ll. Milica continued to live with her in-laws until the opportunity presented itself for her to come to America. In 1961, Milica came to America and in 1962, she was remarried and had a baby girl. Milica took her children to St. George Serbian Orthodox Church Harbor every Sunday for church. She was an active church member and continued to stay involved till her death in 2010.

Zivota Komatovich (October 1919 - January 2013)

At the age of 19, Zivota left Ravinica, Serbia to serve in the Kings’ Army during WWII. By the age of 20, he was captured and sent to Germany to work in a Prisoner of War (POW) camp until his liberation in 1945. Zivota stayed in Germany for 4 years after liberation working on the reconstruction efforts for Germany. On December 18, 1949, he had the opportunity to come to America by ship, and took it! Zivota left Bremerhaven, on the ship called General Haan and arrived in America 10 days later. After arriving in New York, Zivota was bussed to Gary, Indiana, to work in the steel mills. Zivota retired from Inland Steel 33 years later and moved to California. He enjoyed 30 years of retirement and died at the age of 93. Zivota lived a long, hard life. He saw the tragedies of war, he got the opportunity to come to the new world in which he worked and retired, and the chance to have children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Because of Zivotas efforts during his life his descendants know that the opportunities are endless as long as you are willing to work for them.

My father's parents, Mitar and Jovanka Bulatovich are buried at Most Holy Mother of God, Serbian Orthodox Monastery, located in Third Lake, Illinois. My mother's parents Zivota and Milica Komatovich are buried at, The Serbian Cemetery of East L.A.

My grandparents taught me that I should expect to work for what I have; that nothing will be handed to me. Their life stories motivate me because they came to America with nothing and now, two generations later, I feel the love and pride that they had for being Serbian. They never forgot where they came from and constantly gave back to the Serbian Community. I am forever grateful for them and I hope they are as proud of me and I am of them.

I just wish I had five minutes with them; to hug and kiss them and tell them I miss them.