Academy of Arts and Philosophical Sciences in Bari, Italy: We are appointing Ivana Marija Vidović as an Honorary Academician because of her extraordinary talent, primarily as a pianist, because of her dedication to music and culture in general, because of the international reputation she has achieved during her career so far. An artist of rare dedication to music and sensibility, Ivana Marija Vidović enchants audiences around the world.
Category: People
Tomislav Gavranic 1937-2025 Croatian doctor of Aboriginal Health in Australia
Dedicated to the Aboriginal people, written by Maja Gavranic Tomislav Gavranic Remembrance PieceWritten by Mara Gavranic, Australia (daughter of Tomislav Gavranic)Tomislav Gavranic, Dulcie’s loving husband and our Dad, was an amazing man…
Tomislav Gavranic 1937-2025 Croatian doctor of Aboriginal Health in Australia
Tomislav Gavranić, born in Croatia on the island of Korčula (in the town of Blato), was very passionate, loyal and dedicated to the Aboriginal people which we all know. This was shown in both his private and working life. He was honoured whilst working in Gove to be initiated into the Marika Clan in Yirrkala. His aboriginal family kept in contact and they would come to visit, where many a story was told around a very multicultural table. We provide a text written by Mrs. Tuga Tarle, in Croatian. It was a part of her PhD thesis, and included into her very interesting monograph published in 2024 in Zagreb.
Darko Vodopich CEO of Global Med Travels
Darko’s extensive background in both medicine and travel gives him a unique perspective in the medical tourism industry. His journey from guiding travelers across Europe to founding and leading GlobalMedTravels shows a seamless integration of his passions for healthcare and global exploration. With over 30 years of experience in the medical field across various regions in the USA and Europe, his deep knowledge of both patient care and international travel positions him as a key figure in making healthcare accessible worldwide.
Rudolf Matz 1901-1988 distinguished Croatian cello teacher
Croatian born Rudolf Matz (1901-1988) began work on what would become his First Years of Violoncello in the early 1940-s, and he would continue to expand, revise, and make more complete this monumental undertaking for the next 45 years. His interest and experience as a teacher, performer, composer and author informed the content of these of these technical exercises, etudes, and concert pieces, as did his early life experience as a competitive sprinter and his later interest in and study of anatomy, physiology, and ergonomics.
Anica Markov – A Dalmatian Girl from Two Continents
“A Dalmatian girl from two continents” is an autobiographical book in which the author describes her untypical life from her birth up to her adulthood. She was born in Split, Croatia as the fourth child in a well-to-do family. However, due to political reasons, her parents decided to emigrate when she was 15. She loved Croatia and her life there, and she hated to emigrate. The book illustrates some memories of her childhood in various cities of Croatia. Then she continues describing her adulthood in a refugee camp in Italy, emigration to Chile and finally to Venezuela where the family settled. However, her love for Croatia was always present in her life.
Johnny Mercer, distinguished American singer, lyricist and songwriter, has Croatian roots on his mother's side
Among the best known of Johnny Mercer’s songs are “Moon River”, “Autumn Leaves”, “Days of Wine and Roses”, and “Hooray for Hollywood”. He wrote the lyrics to more than 1,500 songs, including compositions for movies and Broadway shows. He received nineteen Oscar nominations, and won four Best Original Song Oscars. His roots on his mother’s side are Croatia: his grandfather (Ivan Josip Čučević, i.e., John Joseph Ciucevich) was born in Croatia on the island of Lastovo.
Croats in South America
In this article, we have only touched upon a vast subject of Croats in South America, covering their contributions in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Venezula,… in numerous field of culture, art and science. among the best known such persons is Juan (Ivan) Vučetić, the father of scientific dactyloscopy (identification by fingerprints; on the photo). We mention also painters Kristian Kreković, Zdravko Dučmelić, Gustav Likan.
Anisha Rosna's father Ivica Adam Kalebic is Croatian
Anisha Rosnah, born in 1994, is the daughter of Siti Mariam Isa and Ivica Adam Kalebic, a Croatian, also known as Adam bin Abdullah. Her name is often written as Anisha Rosnah binti Adam (i.e., daughter of Adam), Anisha Isa Kalebic (containing the second names of her parents). She is very well educated, having completed the University of Bath in the UK. With this marriage she became a member of the Royal Family of Brunei. Brunei is the only sovereign state entirely on the island of Borneo. The remaining part of the island is divided between Malaysia and Indonesia.
Miljenko "Mike" Grgich 1923-2023: "The King of Chardonnay"
With profound sadness, we announce the passing of Miljenko “Mike” Grgich, a name synonymous with innovation, excellence, and pioneering spirit in the world of winemaking. Mike’s enduring legacy extends far beyond his remarkable wines; it encompasses his dedication to sustainability, his mentorship of future winemakers, and his unwavering commitment to his Croatian heritage. His Chardonnay was chosen in 1973 for a blind tasting in Paris, in celebration of the U.S. bicentennial. The results shocked the world when Mike’s Chardonnay was named the top wine in Paris.
Bokeljska trilogija Vicka Tripkovića Podnopljskog / uredio Vinicije B. Lupis
Izdavačka kuća Gospa od Škrpjela – Perast u Crnoj Gori, objavila je 2023. knjigu Bokeljska trilogija Vicka Tripkovića Podnopoljskog, koju je dr. sc. Vinicije B. Lupis (na slici) uredio, opremio i popratio uvodnom studijom “Vicko Tripković Podnopoljski (Dobrota, 1870. Zagreb, 1938.), zaboravljeni hrvatski književnik, autor svojevrsne bokeljske trilogije”. Pripovijetke koje čine ovu trilogiju tiskane su u dubrovačkom književnom časopisu Srđ početkom 20. stoljeća.
Nikola Tesla (1856-1943) the father of Radio Technology and Wireless Communication since 1893
The principles of Radio Communication and Wireless Communication were layed down by Nikola Tesla, distinguished Croatian – American inventor, in 1893, during his spectacular public lecture in the St Louis concert hall, in front of 5000 people. The event was described in detail by Margaret Chaney in her monograph Tesla / Man Out of Time , in Chapter 6 entitled Radio. We provide an important testimony by William Gundry Broughton, son of Henry Primm Broughton (1865-1959) who served as Tesla’s assistant during his lecture in St. Louis. Nikola Tesla is the precurusor of mobile-phone technology for more than hundred years.
Zoran Filipovic Zoro distinguished Croatian photographer
Professional photographer and writer, born in 1959 in Brčko (Bosnia and Herzegovina), Zoran Filipović has lived in Croatia’s capital Zagreb since 1978 where, in the last few years, he’s been turning more and more towards graphic and product design. As photographer, he has worked and seen his work published in a number of distinguished world magazines, such as Paris Match, Life, Photo, Le Figaro Magazine, Die Zeit, Frankfurter Allgemeine Magazin, Vogue/GQ and others. He is the author of 22 photo-monographs.
Elizabeth Kera recipient of Croatian Women's Network Award
Members of the Croatian Women’s Network are successful women from around the world, who share Croatian heritage and ancestry and come together to celebrate achievements, to inspire, champion and mentor younger generations. The aim is to connect like-minded members around the world. The Croatian Women’s Network was founded by Caroline Spivak in Canada in 2015. One of the recipients of the Croatian Women’s Network Award for 2020 is dr. Elizabeth Kera (on the photo) from New Jersey, USA, who is a specialist in the field of neuropsychology.
Paul Bradbury: Life as a Croatian Postman on the island of Hvar
Of all the interviews and feature stories that Paul Bradbury has done on his Total Croatia News internet project over the years, few were as much fun as an impromptu interview with his local postman over a beer in the town of Jelsa one day in 2016, as he explained to him the incredible Dalmatian GPS system they used to deliver mail on island of Hvar, Croatia. Mr. Bradbury lives in Croatia since 2003. He has published more than two thousand articles about various aspects of culture, life and bussiness in Croatia.
National Mathematics Day of India marked in Zagreb Croatia on 22nd December 2022
According to the initiative of H. E. Mr. Raj Kumar Srivastava, the National Mathematics Day of India was marked in Zagreb on 22nd December 2022. Each such event is dedicated to the memory of Srinivasa Ramanujan (1887-1920), the greatest Indian mathematician in history. Several Croatian mathematicians participated in the event: Professors Hrvoje Kraljević, Marko Tadić (Fellow of Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts), Marcela Hanzer, Rudi Mrazović, and Neven Elezović. The first such event was organized in Zagreb in December 2021.
Croatian – Indian Links, monograph marking 30 years of diplomatic relations 1992-2022
The publication Croatian-Indian Links: Thirty Chapters for Thirty Years of Diplomatic Relations (1992-EUR”2022) marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between and India and Croatia and highlights a legacy in which the contributions of our writers, scholars, artists, travellers, politicians are unified in one volume. Some chapters in the volume present certain important individuals and others present some themes or groups of individuals. Preparing this publication was suggested by H. E. Mr. Raj Kumar Srivastava, ambassador of India to Croatia (on the photo).
Gustav Likan 1912-1998 distinguished Croatian-American painter and the Father of Acrylics
Known as the Father of Acrylics, Gustav Likan was originally from Croatia, he lived and painted in Argentina, Chicago and finally in 1969 he moved to Austin. In 1950 he began a two year commission for Eva Peron, painting murals in all the Argentina schools. He emigrated to South America in 1950 where he began a two-year commission for Eva Peron painting murals in the schools of Argentina. He later moved to the United States arriving in Chicago in 1957. He was appointed to the staff of The Chicago Academy of Fine Arts as an instructor where he taught until 1967. The remainder of his life he resided in Texas. He taught at the Laguna Gloria Museum in Austin.
Werner Ilic and Martin Cruickshank two Croatian defenders paddled across the Atlantic in 2022
Werner Ilić and Martin Cruickshank (right and left), Croatian defendors from 1990s, successfuly paddled across the Atlantic Ocean during 83 days (i.e., almost three months). They travelled 5500 kms from Canari Islands to Barbados (from 15th January to 22nd March 2022). In this way, Croatia has been included into the list of 32 countries which have paddlers accross oceans. Mr. Werner Ilić is a Croatian born in Germany, while Marti Cruickshank is of Scottish provenance, living in Croatia in the town of Velika Gorica near Zagreb, where he is happily married.
Keiko Mitani Japanese expert in Croatian Glagolitic literature passed away in 2022
Keiko Mitani, professor at the University of Tokyo, one of greatest Slavists in Japan, passed away in January 2022. She earned her PhD at the University of Zagreb, under supervision of Professor Stjepan Damjanović (of the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts). She was president of the Japan-Croatian Friendship Society in Tokyo. In 2017, she participated at the international conference “The Phenomenon of the Glagolitic Script”, organized in the cities of Biograd and Zadar on Croatian coast. She also wrote a manual in Japanese for learning Croatian, as well as a Croatian-Japanese dictionary.