Ivan Belcic

Ivan, 97, passed away peacefully surrounded by family and friends on Wednesday, December 11, 2024 at his home in West New York, NJ.  He was born on October 16, 1927 to Teodor and Roza Belcic.

Ivan, also known to many of his friends as Nino or John, was born and raised in Krsan, Croatia. At the age of 16, Ivan joined the Yugoslav partisans in WWII and took part in some of the primary WWII battles in Yugoslavia. He survived incredible hardships for over three years and still maintained his good humor. He was united in marriage to Zelinda (nee Vickic) on October 12, 1953. Ivan immigrated to the United States in 1960 and was joined by his wife and young son, Guido, a year later. They settled in Union City, NJ and then moved to West New York, NJ in 1964 where their daughter Kristina was born. Despite leaving Krsan, Ivan never forgot his home and treasured it in his heart for the rest of his life.

He was a talented craftsman, excelling in carpentry but also mastering other construction skills – plumbing, electrical, metalwork, and masonry.  Ivan remodeled and updated not only the family home in West New York, but installed fixtures, repaired, and renovated the homes of his children and countless relatives and friends. He was the ‘guy’ you called whenever something had to be fixed.  His projects small or large were done with precision, care to detail, and built to last a lifetime. His range as a carpenter was incredible, from building an intricate horse stable for his granddaughter’s toy horses to a concrete deck with enough rebar to reinforce a high-rise. His workshop adjacent to his wife’s sewing room kept them together, side by side, while each excelled in their craft.

When Ivan wasn’t building furniture or doing repairs, he loved to care for his garden alongside his wife Zelinda, growing enough produce to feed not only themselves, but their children’s families on just a 20×20 plot. Each year, he made wine and rakija in the most traditional way to be shared by all, and passed these crafts onto his children and grandchildren. He loved history, especially World War II documentaries, and was an avid student of political geography. He could place and name just about any country, its capital, and its political structure. Nicknamed “Crazy Nino” as a young boy, he always had a mischievous nature and took delight in playing small pranks. It always brought a twinkle to his eye with a slightly raised eyebrow.

Ivan is preceded in death by his parents, Teodor and Roza Belcic, his siblings Dora Cekada, Bruna Mazzella, and Berto Belci.

He is survived by his children, Guido and Kristina, and Kristina’s husband Michael; his grandchildren, Ivan, Larissa, Jeffrey and Yuri; his brother Atilio Belci.

The visitation will be held at Patti & Mikatarian Funeral Home at 327 Main St, Fort Lee, NJ. on Tuesday, December 17, from 3-7pm.  Followed by a Funeral Mass at Madonna R.C. Church on the Hill, 2070 Hoefly’s Lane, Fort Lee, NJ on Wednesday, December 18 at 11am.  Interment to follow at Madonna Cemetery in Fort Lee

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to a children’s charity of your choosing.