By TED POTTS
The Very Rev. Stavrofor Dr. Nedeljko Grgurevich, who served as pastor at St. Nicholas Serbian Orthodox Church on St. Clair Road, Westmont, from 1977 until 2005, died Thursday.
He was residing in Alexandria, Va.
Rev. Grgurevich was 74 years old. He retired after leaving St. Nicholas church.
He also had served as pastor of St. George Church in Elizabeth, N.J., and Holy Resurrection Church in Steubenville, Ohio. He was a former dean and professor at St. Sava School of Theology in Libertyville, Ill.
Rev. Grgurevich was very devoted to the church and he worked very hard, said the Rev. Dejan Obradovic, now pastor at St. Nicholas church.
“He was a wonderful person and a wonderful priest,” said Rev. Obradovic, who studied under him at St. Sava School.
Rich Uzelac, president of the St. Nicholas church’s board of trustees, said Rev. Grgurevich’s entire life was led by God.
He was extremely intelligent, extremely spiritual and extremely well-liked throughout the congregation, Mr. Uzelac said.
He was known throughout the congregation as “Father Ned,” and his philosophy was “I will find a way,” he said.
Rev. Grgurevich is survived by his wife of 46 years, Dubravka; two sons, Svetozar and Stefan; a daughter-in-law, Mary; and three grandchildren, Luka, Marko and Maya.
A funeral liturgy will be at 9 a.m. Tuesday at St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Monastery in Libertyville.
