Mathew Louis Rebrovic

Mr. Rebrovic proudly served his country with the U.S. Army Air Corps during WWII. He retired from ARCO Chemical as a Project Engineer.

Mr. Rebrovic was an extremely remarkable talent. He was an accomplished musician, composer and teacher of music. He was a sculptor, artist and published author.

For over 72 years, Mr. Rebrovic had an undying love for the ethnic music of his Yugoslavian people. His mission had been to teach the younger children the values of heritage and the appreciation of tamburitza music.

He started to play tamburitza music in 1936. Playing the tambura, he performed with the Sloboda Tamburitzans of Monaca. He first became interested in music by playing the saxophone in the Monaca High School band and bass in the school orchestra.

After serving in the Army Air Corps in World War II, he returned home to Beaver County, Pennsylvania, and reorganized the Sloboda group. They played on radio station WBVP in Beaver Falls and on a Rochester, New York, radio station.

Mr. Rebrovic then joined Chuck Sabolic and the Biser Tamburitzans. The Biser orchestra played four or five times a week, plus radio performances. He stayed with the Biser group until his professional career began to demand his full attention. Even after he left the Biser orchestra, Mr. Rebrovic continued to play and teach the tambura, spending most of the time he had available with the junior groups and the young people.

Despite his rigorous professional schedule as chief draftsman and project engineer for Arco Chemical Company of Potter Township, Mr. Rebrovic still found time to author and publish a book on how to play all the instruments in the tambura family.

To honor his career as a teacher and tamburitza musician, Mr. Rebrovic was inducted into the TTA Hall of Fame in 1995. Perhaps he summed it up best when he once said, "Our heritage is reflected in our music."

He is also a noted sculptor, whose work includes sculptures of world-famous people and family members. He has sculpted with steel and welding, and his work has been displayed at numerous exhibitions.

Most notable is his sculpture and bronze statue of Nikola Tesla, “The Father of Radio” which is on display at the Serb National Federation Heritage Museum in Belgrade and also one in Cleveland.

Locally, Mr. Rebrovic was noted for his collaborative work with Jerry Fisher to design the Beaver County Veterans Bridge Memorial.

Mr. Rebrovic has said that one of his greatest thrills in life was to make the initial drawings of designs to be used to form the crating of Michelangelo's Pieta, which was shipped to the United States from the Vatican for the 1964 New York World's Fair.

He was also recognized as a regular contributing pen and pencil artist to Vicary House Magazine with over one hundred submissions. His artwork can be found in many other Beaver County Publications.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of 52 years: Helen (Katrenich) Rebrovic on July 31, 1997; his brother: John Rebrovic and three sisters: Margaret Skrlac, Mary Hoffer and Ann Pukanich.

Mr. Rebrovic is survived by his children and their spouses: Leslie Ann Harper, and her husband Jim, Center Township; Louis Rebrovic, PhD and his wife Denise, New Bremen, OH; David Rebrovic and his wife Lynn, Port St. Lucie, FL; seven grandchildren: Hugh (Kristi) Harper; Daniel (Kelly) Harper; Sara (Brad) Fletcher; Lucas Rebrovic; Rayna, Chad and Shelby Rebrovic; great granddaughter: Abigail Harper; many nieces and nephews; and his very dear friends: Jerry and Lydian Fisher.

Friends will be received Monday, July 14, 2014 from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. in the SAUL-GABAUER FUNERAL HOME, INC., 273 Route 68, Rochester (PGS 848 Sunflower Road, adjacent to Sylvania Hills Memorial Park Mausoleum). His funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday in the funeral home with Pastor George Atkins, officiating. Private interment will be in the John F. Kennedy Memorial Garden at Sylvania Hills.

The family wishes to extend special thanks to the second floor staff of Friendship Ridge, the staff of Villa St. Joseph, everyone at Heritage Valley Beaver Emergency Room and all at Good Samaritan Hospice, Beaver, for their kind and compassionate care.

Online condolences may be offered at www.saul-gabauer.com

Mr. Rebrovic will long be remembered as a gifted musician and artisan who selflessly desired to share his passion for art and music to inspire others.