Milovan Shundich

Milovan Shundich also spelled Milovan Šundić (Cyrillic: Милован Шундић; Župa Nikšićka, Montenegro, 2 February 1900 - Jackson, California, United States, 19 November 1958) spent his whole life raising funds to build schools, community centers and churches in the old country and in America.

Biography

Milovan Shundich was born on 2 February 1900 in Župa Nikšićka in Crna Gora. There he went to school in Podgorica and after completing high school he enrolled in a divinity college in Cetinje. Upon graduation and before entering the priesthood, he married Maria, his high school sweetheart. He was assigned to Srez Goransko Piva as parish priest by the Serbian Orthodox Metropolitanate of Montenegro. With great energy, he raised enough funds to build the first school in the immediate region. When he was relocated to his native place he built his second school at Župa Nikšićka, which today still stands in the same place. Then he built the third school in Nikšić and the fourth school in Dobrici Srez Stolački Herzegovina, dedicated to King Alexander at Srez Nevesinje. In his work to initiate school building projects, he was given support by the Royal Yugoslav Government and the people. These were difficult times because it was right after the Great War. In his work in his home country, he was inspired by the legacy of the late Minister of Interior Milorad Drashkovich, who was killed by terrorists.

New Homeland

He came to America with his wife Maria in 1928 and they settled in Lorain, Ohio. There he organized a Church School Congregation but they did not have a church. At that time, they used the Russian Orthodox Church to have their services in Serbian. With the help of people and friends, he organized to build a church in Lorain which was named St. George. After that, he organized a new parish St. John the Baptist in Bellwood, Illinois. He then moved to Wilmerding, Pennsylvania, where he helped erect the St. Nikola church and directed other efforts, and promoting emigrant schools.

He came to Jackson, California, in August 1954. His work for the Saint Sava Serbian Orthodox Church in Jackson was equally impressive as his relentless pursuit for success. With a modest salary, he still worked diligently encouraging his parishioners to improve their lot. He held many fundraisers to help the church parish maintain itself. With his dedicated service, a church hall was built.

He authored three books and edited the official magazine of the Serbian Orthodox Diocese of America during the 1940s.

Father Milovan Shundich died on 19 November 1958 and was buried at the First Serbian Church in North America, St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church in Jackson, Amador County, California, behind the altar where he always liked to be.

Literature

• Milan Karlo, "Early Days: Serbian settlers in America" (1984), pages 23 and 43;
• Frank J. Kordalski Jr., Michael R. Kordalski: "Old Versailles Township (2015), page 34.

References

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