Jonathon Kovacs

Jonathon was born in Alliance, Ohio to the late Rudolph J. Kovacs (Scotty) and Barbara Kaufman Kovacs and grew up between Key Biscayne and Delray Beach, Florida. This is where he got his love of the water and began to swim like a fish.

Living so close to the beach, he learned to skim board, surf, sail, and enjoy most any water sport. He rode his bike like the wind and skateboarded constantly.

He enlisted in the Army in 1981 and was an 82nd Airborne Paratrooper, a member of the Multinational Peace-Keeping Force in the Sinai desert, stationed in the Black Forest of Germany with the 101st Airborne Division, and then joined the 501st Division in Vincenza, Italy.

Upon returning to civilian life, he became a certified Commercial Diver. He traveled the world welding underwater, inspecting bridges, nuclear power plants, and airport runways. He even collected Japanese delicacies for a company in Maine.

He then moved to the Gulf of Mexico to work on oil rigs where he met his future wife, Edmée Allain, and had their only daughter Sélène Louise Allain-Kovacs.

He later moved to Costa Rica, where he was a Sous Chef at a well-known resort before returning stateside to continue his diving career building docks on Lake Murray, SC and doing underwater welding on several projects including one at the World Trade Center and another on an oil holding island in the Caribbean.

His faithful dalmatian companions were constant protectors and friends, even windsurfing with him on the front of his sailboard.

He is survived by his mother, Barbara Kovacs, his older sister, Lisa Kovacs, his younger sister, Elisabeth Kovacs, his daughter Selene Marcello (Mitch), and granddaughter Eloise Marcello.

He will be greatly missed!

A memorial service will be at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, September 12, 2026, at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral.

Dunbar Funeral Home, Devine Street Chapel, is assisting the family.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Trinity Cathedral Friends of Music Program.