Michael Kovac

KOVAC, Michael, passed away on May 9, 2012 of a rare form of cancer. He was 70 years old. He is survived by his loving wife of 47 years, Midge (Sharon) who has always been his strength and his guide in spiritual life. He is also survived by his four adult children, their spouses and 11 grandchildren: Cathy Kovac and Andy Johanni (Michael, Katie, Genevieve, Peter and Anneliese); Matt and Janine Kovac (Chiara, Wagner, Michael); John and Saskia Kovac (Jack); Peter Kovac and Therese Kelly (Claire and Megan). He graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a BS in Electrical Engineering and received his PhD from Northwestern University. In the early 1970s Mike was a researcher at RCA Research Labs in Princeton, NJ. In the mid-1970s he co-founded a small technology company in the Boston area, and then joined the University of South Florida College of Engineering in 1977. He continued his research career at the USF College of Engineering and served in a number of academic administrative positions at USF (Department Chair, Associate Dean of Research, Dean of Engineering for 13 years, acting Provost/Executive VP of USF, founder and director of the Nanotechnology Research Center). He found great pleasure in serving on the Boards of Directors of several organizations, including Jesuit High School in Tampa and MOSI. Mike was active in church- related activities over the years. In recent years he was blessed to be able to participate in several missionary trips to rural Haiti where he helped establish a "sister-parish" relation between St Michael's in Haiti and Corpus Christi Church in Temple Terrace. Family will receive friends from 6 PM to 8 PM on Friday, May 11 at the Terrace Oaks Funeral Home. Funeral Mass will be offered at Corpus Christi at 11 AM on Saturday, May 12. Interment to follow at Hillsboro Memorial Gardens, Brandon, FL. In lieu of flowers please send donations to Corpus Christi Haiti Mission or to Moffitt Cancer FoundationSarcoma Division. Words of comfort may be expressed at blountcurryterraceoaks.com.