DRAGANIC, Zdenko Den – passed away peacefully surrounded by family on September 12, 2021. He would have been 89 on October 5. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Svjetlana, his sister Nada, his children Robin and Nina (Catherine), his grandchildren Rafael, David, Ben, Sam, Jasper, and Vivi, his niece and nephew, Lada and Boris, and his cousin Jasna. He was predeceased by his youngest son, Zarko (Nellie) in 2014.
Raised and educated in Zagreb, Croatia, Zdenko emigrated with his family via Vienna to Canada in 1969. While learning English, raising a family, and building a career as a chemical engineer in a new country, he managed to find time to share his passion and expertise with many individuals and organizations, including the Rideau Saint Lawrence Science Fair, the YMCA, Youth and Music Canada, and Jazz Brockville. In 1985, he relocated with Svjetlana to Marsa el Brega, Libya, and they retired in Monteriggioni, Italy in 1994. In addition to learning Italian and immersing himself in Italian culture, he was active in the community as a volunteer for the Pubblica Assistenza, the Chiesa di Santa Maria Assunta, and the Misericordia di Castellina Scalo. After 25 years in Italy, he returned to Canada in the midst of a global pandemic to be cared for by his daughter and her partner on the beautiful shores of Lake Ontario, where he was able to reconnect with family and some of his dearest and oldest friends.
His greatest passions were music, art and nature, and his incisive mind and legendary charm enriched the lives of all who knew him. May he finally rest in peace, united with those who went before him, in that beautiful place “where there shall be no darkness nor dazzling, but one equal light; no noise nor silence, but one equal music.” (John Donne)
In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate memorial donations to one of the following: Center for Addiction and Mental Health, Bring Change to Mind, Misericorida Castellina Scalo, and/or contributions of messages of condolence, stories, photos or videos to his memorial website: www.rushnellfamilyservices.com
www.camh.ca/en/get-involved/ways-to-donate
bringchange2mind.org/donate/
www.misecastellina.it/contattaci/
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Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Zdenko Den Draganic Sunday September 12th 2021..
Death notice for the town of: Belleville, Province: Ontario
Dear Lena, Nina, Catherine & Family
We just heard of your tragic loss of your husband, father, & grandfather. Our hearts and thoughts are with you at this sad time.
But what a wonderful legacy and what an amazing life! Your memories will carry on for many generations.
We will pay our respects in person when we are back next door.
Our sincere condolences to you and yours.
Joanne & Dave Heighway
My sincere sympathies to Svetlana, Robin and Nina at their loss. I was a friend of the family while we were still young in Zagreb dreaming of a better future, enjoying music and strolling up and down the slopes of Sljeme. We lost contact many years ago. Pity. But I often thought of you all and kept warm memories.
With my condolences, Iva Caccia Mihovilovic