Jovan M. Popovich

It is with deep sorrow that the family of Dr. Jovan Popovich announces his passing on Thursday, the 7th of April 2022, at his home, after a short battle with cancer. He leaves behind his wife, Vera, daughter, Jovana, son-in-law, Blake, and granddaughter, Mila.

Jovan was born on the 11th of September 1952, in Belgrade, Yugoslavia. Following in the footsteps of many generations of doctors in his family, he pursued a career in medicine, and became board certified in Internal Medicine, Rheumatology, and Geriatrics. He practiced as a Rheumatologist at Houston Methodist for over twenty years, with a focus on autoimmune diseases. Medicine was Jovan’s passion. His peers regarded him as a brilliant clinician, diagnostician, and teacher.

“Dr. P,” as he was fondly referred to, was a man of exceptional warmth, patience, and kindness. He would go to great lengths to explain things to patients, families, students, and residents, and he always made time to listen to their concerns. He truly cared for his patients and his patients truly cared for him.

His family and friends will remember him as a kind and gentle man, a devoted husband, loving father; a man who enjoyed going to the symphony and the opera, but also equally enjoyed watching football on Sunday. You would often find him in the backyard tending to the plants in his garden or sitting on the patio in the company of his friendly neighborhood cats or the dogs (first Zelda, then Jack) that he loved so much. He loved good food, fine wines, double espressos, and most of all, spending time with Vera, Jovana, Blake, and Mila. We will love him and miss him forever.

The family would like to thank Dr. Robert Jackson, Lisa Kelly, the wonderful caregivers at Houston Hospice, as well as all of the patients who sent flowers, cards, and letters to him in his final days.

Friends are cordially invited to a reception with the family from five o’clock in the afternoon until seven o’clock the evening on Thursday, the 14th of April, in the Grand Foyer of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston.

In lieu of customary remembrances, the family requests with gratitude that contributions in Jovan’s honor be directed to the Houston Grand Opera, https://www.houstongrandopera.org/donate/; or the Colorectal Cancer Alliance, 1025 Vermont Ave. NW, Suite 1066, Washington, DC, 20005.