Dr. Prof. Miodrag Radulovacki

1933 - 2014

Prof. Dr. Miodrag Radulovacki, 81, passed into eternal life in Belgrade, Serbia on Tuesday, May 27, 2014. Born on April 28, 1933 in Parage, Backa in Serbia to Georgije and Jelena Radulovacki. Loving father of Predrag (Brad) and Branko Radulovacki, proud grandfather of Grant, Reid, Kathryn and Ryan and brother of Mirjana Radetich. Prof. Dr. Miodrag Radulovacki will be sorely missed by numerous other family members, friends, students and admirers world-wide. Dr. Miodrag Radulovacki was born in Parage, in Backa, where he started elementary school; his father was his first grade teacher. At the beginning of World War II the family moved to Hrtkovci to live with his maternal parents while his father was drafted into the Yugoslav army. When Dr. Radulovacki was 10 years old, he moved to Sremski Karlovci after his mother accepted a teaching position in the town. Sremski Karlovci, a historic baroque town on the banks of the Danube River, had been home to the Radulovacki family for over 200 years. Dr. Radulovacki attended Karlovci High School which is the oldest high school in Serbia. He graduated as valedictorian of the Karlovci High School Class of 1951. During his high school years, Dr. Radulovacki developed a deep interest in medical research. He graduated from the University of Belgrade School of Medicine, where he also defended his PhD thesis in the field of physiology of sleep. Dr. Miodrag Radulovacki was a Professor of Pharmacology and researcher at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) and a Member of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts. He was Chair of the Departmental Postgraduate Studies Committee from 1982 to 1985. He also taught at the University of Belgrade and at the University of Khartoum (Sudan). His scientific interests encompassed the fields of physiology, biochemistry and the pharmacology of sleep. Dr. Radulovacki's scientific career was highlighted by significant research accomplishments in two areas: (1) he postulated the Adenosine Sleep Theory, and (2) together with his longtime research collaborator, Dr. David W. Carley,(Professor of Medicine at the UIC), he pioneered pharmacological approaches for the treatment of sleep apnea. Dr. Radulovacki and Dr. Carley invented several drug therapies for the treatment of sleep apnea which have been patented by the UIC. As a result, the UIC recognized them as the 2010 "Inventors of the Year." In addition to his research and teaching at the UIC, Prof. Radulovacki initiated academic exchange programs with the Universities of Belgrade and Novi Sad. These programs brought outstanding students to the UIC and lasted for 12 years with a total of 304 participants. Dr. Radulovacki was also a philanthropist. He made numerous contributions to his home town of Sremski Karlovci. In 2007, Dr. Radulovacki restored the symbol of Karlovci, a baroque fountain called the Four Lions Fountain. In 2009, Dr. Radulovacki restored the baroque fa¿ades of the Ecological Center in Karlovci, which occupies a historic building in the center of the town. And, in 2010, Dr. Radulovacki restored the monument of a popular Serbian poet, Branko Radichevich,at Strazhilovo mountain. Visitation Sunday, June 8, 2014, from 4 pm to 9 pm at Sveta Gora Serbian Orthodox Funeral Home, 3517 N. Pulaski Road in Chicago. Mali Pomen (Wake Service) 7 pm at Sveta Gora. Opelo (Serbian Orthodox Funeral Service) Monday, June 9, 2014 at 12 noon at the Holy Resurrection Serbian Orthodox Cathedral, 5701 N Redwood Drive, Chicago, IL 60631. After the Opelo, interment will take place at the St. Sava Cemetery, 32377 Milwaukee Avenue, Libertyville, IL, 60048. Approximate time of the interment is 2:30 p.m. Daca (Memorial Luncheon) will be served after the interment at the New Gracanica Monastery, 35240 W Grant Ave. Third Lake IL 60046. Approximate time of the Memorial Luncheon is 3:45 p.m.For more information, please contact Sveta Gora Serbian Orthodox Funeral Home, phone 773-588-2200 or visit www.citulje.com.