Saturday, February 20, 2021
I was very fortunate to meet Milan almost a week after his arrival in Canada. He came as a
trade diplomat. We met through the Yugoslav Consulate in Toronto and the Consul General
Mitko Calovski. Mitko remained a lifelong friend to me and Milan. Mitko was the secretary of the
Yugoslav Foreign affairs cabinet, and then Yugoslav Ambassador to Canada and later Britain.
As soon as Milan arrived, he became part of our circle and good practice for me to keep my
Serbian up, since I had previously worked as a Diplomat in the Canadian Embassy in
Yugoslavia.
Milan had great knowledge of the economies of other countries and of foreign affairs. I was
lucky in that we were both involved in international trade activities and international politics and
we both had a great interest in what was happening in both Canada and Yugoslavia.
My children were young at the time and their first memories of Milan were of how kind and
gentle he was. A real diplomat and gentleman.
We were so happy when Milan and Irene got married. I remember their wedding day in Casa
Loma so well. It seems to me that the joyousness and enthusiasm of Irene brought out the
absolute best in him.
I have been so impressed by the loving care of Irene as Milan has gone through his health
shocks over the last few years, and by Milan’s survival instincts and perseverance . Even last
month when I spoke to Milan last, he didn't despair . He was holding his end up.
May he rest in peace.
- Don Stevenson
