Zoran Mijich

Born on February 10, 1940, in Yugoslavia, Zoran was the son of Officer Svetozar Mijic and Zagorka Petkovic Mijic. His father was killed in 1945 during the Yugoslav Civil War when Zoran was just five years old. In the years that followed, his mother raised Zoran and his sister, Mirjana, through difficult circumstances in postwar Yugoslavia. Those early experiences helped shape the strength, resilience, and determination that would define his life.

After completing his education in Yugoslavia, Zoran immigrated to the United States in 1967 and made Washington, D.C., his home. On October 2, 1981, he married Tamara Dombrovsky, and together they built a loving family centered on devotion, hard work, and enduring love.

Zoran spent much of his professional career as a land surveyor with Dewberry & Davis, where he was respected for his precision, dedication, and integrity. Outside of work, he rarely met a sport he didn't enjoy watching, loved sharing stories about his family and his remarkable past, and was known for his sense of humor and an occasional joke that was best appreciated by adults. Stubborn when he believed he was right and endlessly entertaining when recounting a story, Zoran had a way of leaving an impression on everyone he met.

Above all, Zoran cherished his family. He took great pride in his daughters, Ana and Katarina, and found immense joy in his grandchildren, Poppy, River, Stella, and Wilder.

The day before he passed away, family and friends gathered around him. His sons-in-law were there. His grandchildren filled the house. The World Cup played in the background. It was a room full of life, laughter, and love. And then, as if he had been waiting to know that everyone was together, Zoran said goodbye. He left this world as he had lived in it—with his family close and the world still turning around him.

Zoran is survived by his beloved wife, Tamara; his daughters, Ana Mijich Leitch and Katarina Mijich; his sister, Mirjana Berbakov; and his cherished grandchildren, Poppy, River, Stella, and Wilder. He was preceded in death by his parents, Svetozar Mijic and Zagorka Petkovic Mijic.

Funeral services will be held on June 26 at 12:00 p.m. at St. Luke Serbian Orthodox Church.

Those wishing to honor Zoran's memory may make a contribution to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN), a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing pancreatic cancer research, supporting patients and families, and advocating for improved treatments and outcomes.

His family will remember him for his strength, dignity, devotion, and the love he carried for them throughout his life.