Stephen Robert Kovac

S. Robert Kovac M.D., 80 years old, born December 17, 1938 and died on December 12, 2019. Grew up in University City, Missouri the second son of Mileva (nee Adžić) and Stojan Mirko (Kovačević) Kovac. Bob attended University City High School and received his B.A from Washington University, where he majored in medicine. He attended the University of Missouri School of Medicine, where he met MaryAnn Azar whom he married on May 18, 1963. After graduating from medical school, Bob and MaryAnn moved to Chicago where he did his internship at Northwestern University, then returned to St. Louis to complete his residency in obstetrics and gynecology at Barnes Hospital. Bob was drafted into the United States Army and served as Major and was a General Surgeon and Co-Hospital Commander in VietNam. He was a member of the 101st Airborne and was a Green Beret and was awarded a Purple Heart, a Bronze Star, the Combat Medic Badge, and the VietNam Paratrooper Wings. Bob returned to St. Louis and completed a fellowship in Gynecologic Surgery and Urogynecology at Barnes Hospital and went into private practice and began his academic career. He served as a Clinical Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Washington University School of Medicine and was on the teaching staff at St. John’s Mercy Medical Center. In 1995, Bob married Patricia Daniels Kovac and they moved to Dayton, Ohio where he became Professor and Director, Division of Pelvic Reconstructive Surgery and Urogynecology and Division of General Obstetrics and Gynecologic Surgery, Wright State University School of Medicine, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics. In 2000, he joined the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Emory University School of Medicine where he became Emeritus Distinguished Professor of Gynecologic Surgery. Bob and Patricia traveled around the world speaking and teaching Vaginal Surgery and Vaginal Reconstructive Surgery and held and attended many conferences on Pelvic Reconstructive Surgery. He has served as an Editorial Consultant for Obstetrics and Gynecology, American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Journal of Pelvic Surgery, and International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Dr. Kovac has been a guest faculty member at many postgraduate conferences and he has written over 80 journal articles, chapters and books. He is recognized throughout the world as one of the most accomplished and innovative surgeons in the field of pelvic surgery. After Bob retired from Emory, he moved from Atlanta GA to St. Pete Beach, FL, where he moved with his son Stephen. There he enjoyed playing golf, fishing, boating, and being a grandfather. Bob also liked to travel, smoke a good cigar and drinking whiskey or a good Pinot Noir. Bob was preceded in death by mother and father Mileva and Stephen (Stojan) Kovac, his brother Michael (Sharon) and his first wife MaryAnn, and his second wife Patricia. He was father to Kimberly Mileva(Scott) Hukari and Stephen Raymond (Kim) Kovac from his first marriage to MaryAnn and Phillip Kovac, Brian (Sarah) Daniels, Stephen Christopher (Carolyn) Kovac from his second marriage to Patricia. He was grandfather to Alexa Kovac, Hunter, Harrison, Hayes, and Heath Hukari, Christopher, Carter, and Charlie Ann Daniels, Michael, Emma, and Mia Kovac. He was uncle to Gregory (Dana) Kovac, Allison (Bob) Onder and Mark (Amy) Kovac, cousin to Vic(Ann) Glogovac, Elizabeth (Steve) Nichols, Radomir (Jermina) Kovačević, Srdjan (Jelena) Kovačević, Dr. Sasha (Aleksandar) Ljustina, Aleksandar (Branka) Adžić, Rade (Ksenja) Adžić, Silvana (nee Adžić) and Vitus Thali, Zorka (nee Adžić) Zdravko Virag and Miloš Adžić. Bob was an extremely accomplished and devoted doctor who dedicated his life to women’s issues and was a true pioneer of vaginal surgery. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Society of Gynecologic Surgeons at https://www.sgsonline.org/ or Ducks Unlimited at https://www.ducks.org/ In memory of Dr. S Robert Kovac MD. Please visit www.beachmemorialchapel.com for his full biography and to place a tribute.

Tributes

Stephen Robert Kovac

December 17, 1938 - December 12, 2019