Jovo Jovanović

Jovan Jovanović was born in village Donji Brčeli, Principality of Montenegro (today Montenegro) on 16 September 1906. His father was Pero Jovanović. He was born in poor family. His father came from America when First Balkan War started, but disappeared during World War I. He was always interested in schooling. In 1934, he graduated literature and Russian language in Belgrade, Serbia (then Kingdom of Yugoslavia). His first job was at the Gymnasium of Berane. In December 1943, he married Zagorka and later came to live in Bosnia with her. They had no children.[5]

He lived in Podgorica, Montenegro during World War II. His sister Ljubica was killed during war. After war, he became Director of Gymnasium in Foca, where at the same time he was a professor of Russian language and philosophy. In April 1946 he was arrested by OZNA, a security agency of post-war Yugoslavia and spent half year in Cetinje prison. After that, he worked at gymnasiums in Pljevlja, again in Foca and Sarajevo. In January 1957, he went to the University Library in Sarajevo and worked there until retirement. During his life, he published 222 scientific papers. His wife passed away in 1973.

At the time of Bosnian War, in 1992, his apartment was demolished and he spent five months living in shelters. In the shelling in March 1993, he was severely injured in his leg. In his last years, he devoted himself to studying about "Gorski vijenac" (The Mountain Wreath), a poem and a play by Petar II Petrovic- Njegos. In March 1996 he moved to Gerontological Center in Sarajevo. All of his time he spent with Fahira Turkovic, who came to Center one day before him.[6][7]

Jovan died on 1 October 2016 at the age of 110 years, 15 days. He was buried on 5 October 2016 on Bare Cemetery, Sarajevo.[8]