When we went to the hospital on Wednesday afternoon it did not occur to us that dying was an option. If we had even the slightest idea, we are sure that Branko might have written his own obituary. He was a man of few words, a man of action, and someone who wanted to do most things himself. Branko always had the determination, vision, and capacity to see things through to the end. Everything he did, he did with his entire being. From the smallest of daily tasks, through to his professional work and achievements. We are deeply saddened that we lost such a great father, husband, educator, and lifelong friend. He passed away suddenly, and we are grateful to have been by his side.

Branko was born in 1963 in the central Serbian city of Čačak and grew up in Kraljevo. There, seven medieval kings were crowned, and Branko often liked to mention that. He moved to Belgrade in 1982 to study architecture, and fall in love with Vera. Branko came to the United States in 1988 on a Fulbright Scholarship to study Computer Aided Design at Harvard. Since then, he lived and taught at many places in the United States, Canada, and Asia, influencing young minds and sharing his knowledge with clarity and conciseness. He had a great capacity to synthesize knowledge and make complex ideas clear, a skill appreciated by his students and colleagues. Teaching was his vocation, telling the stories and challenging his students to think differently was his passion, helping students find their professional path by sharing advice and connections was his pleasure. His seminal book Architecture in the Digital Age: Design and Manufacturing  was among the first volumes that explored the digitally driven changes in architecture and the construction industry.

He was first and foremost an educator and a scholar; publishing books, papers, and articles in major architectural publications, and giving talks around the world. His keen and precise mind was always able to elegantly synthesize and get to the core of the argument in a clear manner.

Later in his career Branko was increasingly interested in a leadership position and in shaping architectural education. After serving as an Associate Dean at the University of Calgary Faculty of Environmental Design (now SAPL), he became a Dean at the Hillier College of Architecture and Design at NJIT in 2019. He was also the President of the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA) from 2018-2019, President of the Canadian Architectural Certification Board (CACB) from 2013-2014, and the President of the Association for Computer Added Design in Architecture (ACADIA) from 1997-1998, just to name a few.

Branko made a lasting impression on everyone he met. He influenced many people, their thinking, and their work.

He was a man who saw far, who had a vision, and an enormous determination to see it through down to the smallest detail. That required great strength. Branko was a force. Those of us who knew and loved him feel in these moments the insurmountable void that he left behind. People who always know what time it is are keenly aware of its passing. Branko was one of those people. He lived a full life, professionally and personally, and never wasted any moment. He enjoyed traveling and meeting his colleagues in all parts of the world. Branko left a mark everywhere he would go, sharing his energy with all of us.

It was an honor to be his friend, colleague, wife, son … we deeply thank him for being in our lives and will cherish forever what he brought into them.

We ask our friends and colleagues not to send flowers, but if you would like to, please consider contributing a small amount into a Legacy fund that will be used to form a scholarship in Branko’s name. 

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