Aleksandar Kecojevic Obituary (1970

Aleksandar Kecojevic "Alex" passed away in the comfort of his home on December 9, 2022 surrounded by family, after a hard and heroically fought battle with Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Alex was born in Tuzla, Bosnia, in the former Yugoslavia, on August 2, 1970, to Milica (nee: Vasic) and the late Jovan Kecojevic. He moved to Serbia in 1992 and emigrated to Canada in 1994, and for the past 21 years he resided in the United States, obtaining citizenship in 2017. He completed his undergraduate studies in Biology at the University of Western Ontario, Canada, and earned a Master of Public Health at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland. In 2010 he pursued a Doctor of Public Health at Drexel University and moved to Philadelphia where he met and married his beloved life partner, Gregory Hastings. In 2015, he joined the faculty at William Patterson University in New Jersey, eventually becoming Associate Professor of Public Health. He engaged tirelessly in research and published frequently, with a particular focus on health disparities, social determinants of health, substance use and LGBT health. He was also a devoted instructor and a dependable, much-loved colleague to all who worked with him.From an early age Alex traveled widely. He was naturally curious and loved exploring different cultures and cuisines with his spouse. He was equally happy to build a comfortable home life for his family and pets. He witnessed and survived tremendous political upheaval and disruptions in his studies caused by war, yet was able to start again, with nothing, in a new land. Through all this and even during a devastating illness, he maintained a tremendous sweetness and thoughtfulness of others, which enabled him to make and keep friends across oceans and lifetimes.Alex is survived by his beloved spouse, Gregory Hastings, dear mother, Milica Kecojevic, loving brother Vlad Kecojevic, niece Tara Kecojevic, nephew Luka Kecojevic, mother-in-law Joyce Baker and father-in-law William Baker, and a network of extended family and friends who are heartbroken by his passing. A memorial service will be held at Saint Marks Church, 1625 Locust Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19103, on Saturday, 12/17/22, at 1 pm. Cemetery Burial will be private PAUS Funeral Service Saturday, December 17, 2022 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM St. Mark 's Church 1625 Locust Street Philadelphia PA 19103 US Funeral Home Murphy Ruffenach Brian W. Donnelly Funeral Home 2239 S 3rd St Philadelphia PA - 19148 US 215-334-1578