- Date Of Birth: January 15, 1937
- Date Of Death: April 26, 2020
- State: New York
Born in Mal Ij, Yugoslavia on January 15, 1937, Departed on April 26, 2020, and resided in White Plains, NYBurial: Gate of Heaven CemeteryThursday May 7, 2020
Vilim (Bill) Orovic passed away on Sunday, April 26, 2020, of Covid-19 complications. Thankfully, because of Hospice, he passed peacefully at home with his family at his side. Bill was born on January 15, 1937, to Marija and Dale Orovic on a small island in the Former Yugoslavia. At the age of 18, he escaped the Communist country and was rescued in the Adriatic Sea off the coast of Italy. After being a refugee in Italy, Bill emigrated to Paris, France where he lived and worked for seven years before immigrating to the U.S. and becoming a citizen. Bill was a man with a very sharp mind and incredible memory. His knowledge of History, Philosophy, and Political Science was deep. He also had a profound appreciation of art. He spent hours reading about artists, sculptors, and their works. He covered every available wall space with art. But, what made Bill such a cherished man, was his kind, compassionate heart. Didn’t have to understand his thick accent to know what his heart was saying.
Bill was predeceased by his younger brother, Jimi Orovic, who Bill sponsored to come to live the American dream, and by his Mother-in-law, Betty Gandolfo with whom he shared a long, loving relationship.
Bill is survived by his family who always felt his warmth and love-his wife of 44 years, Denise (Gandolfo) Orovic, daughter, Jaime Orovic, son, Christian Orovic, and a more recent bright light in his life, grandson, Sonny. He is also survived by his sister, Ryka, nephews, Marino, Andrea, and Joseph in Croatia as well as Brother-in-law, Joseph Gandolfo, and Sister-in-law Mirjana Orovic.
