Obituary of Dr. Igor Ivković
Dr. Igor Ivković, 1977 – 2020
It is with deep sadness in our hearts that we announce the unexpected passing of Dr. Igor Ivković at the age of 43. The world has lost one of its best ones way too soon. Igor was a curious, intelligent, sweet and courteous boy who grew up with the deep love of family and friends to become an upstanding and loving young man. He loved LoTR, was an amazing skier and chess player, and was naturally good at all things that interested him. Most of all, he was always a delight to be around.
As a true Gen X-er, Igor was all about technology, and strived to shape tech for the world we live in today. A love for math, technology, teaching & learning resulted in a Doctoral degree in Software Engineering from the University of Waterloo. He followed it up with a promising academic and teaching career at the University, which he believed to be his vocation in life. He also met his dear wife of 17 years at Waterloo. They shared a love for knowledge, political funnies, sci-fi and movies, and created a wholesome life with their darling fur-baby, their dog, Shadow.
A classical guitarist, an adept mathematician, a genius at computer science, and a committed engineering professional, Igor was a kind, sensitive man … a good soul … who left an indelible mark on the lives he touched. Igor was an incredible learner, and more so, willing to share everything he knew. If you had the chance to meet him, you would never leave without learning something new & interesting. He genuinely wanted to make a difference in this world through education because he believed that a robust education can shape positive outcomes for society. The outpouring of love and raw emotion from his students & colleagues and friends & family and from around the world shows the incredible mark he left on everyone and how many hearts he touched.
Igor truly believed that the “answer to the ultimate question of life, the universe, and everything” is 42. His message to his students who convocated in Summer 2020 is worth sharing with everyone who knew him:
As you embark on that next step in life, even in the face of COVID-19, you may ask yourself “What is the meaning of life?” and “What lies ahead?” As you attended lectures in my courses, I think you already know the answer: it is “42”!
A more specific question may be, “What is my purpose in life?” — but that, we all have to learn for ourselves. Hence, the answer of 42 to the original question.
What may help in life is to maintain consistency, with the path chosen, by being kind, supporting others, being effective in our roles, and having good people around us.
As you reflect on life, you may find that life is meaningful if its progression matches its purpose. You may find that life’s outcomes have meaning that we attribute to them.
When in doubt, I hope that you can find solace in “42” and in goodness of the world. And never worry – there is hope, if only in fragments at times; it is there, both near and far.
Igor deeply loved his rescued fur-baby, Shadow … he believed dogs made us better people. And all dogs loved him right back! Memorial donations, if you wish, may be made to Hamilton-Burlington SPCA. If you wish to share your condolences with flowers, please send them to Erb & Good Family Funeral Home, 171 King Street South, Waterloo, ON N2J 1P7, Canada, for 08 December 2020 (a day before the funeral service). Igor would want those that knew and loved him to find their peace with his passing. Due to the current pandemic, however, the in-person service is for immediate family only.
Igor will be dearly missed by his wife (Shabnam), parents (Dragan & Zoja), sister (Sandra), grandmother (Vukosava), mother-in-law (Narinder), brother-in-law (Todd), family & friends worldwide, and his students & colleagues.
Igor left us all with a powerful message in a poem he penned in 2019, On Kindness:
Kindness is an ember that glows deep inside us
It gives us warmth when the world around us may be cold
It gives us energy to share the warmth with those in need
The ember will glow as long as our spirit is alive
Rest in peace, dear, sweet, smart, kind, honest, strong, Igor. Love you forever. 42 …
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Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Dr Igor
Ivković 1977 2020..
erb & good family funeral home
Death notice for the town of: Waterloo, Province: Ontario