Josip developed a sense of justice and activism at an early age, making choices that made life harder than what may have otherwise been the destiny of the eldest son of a Yugoslavian government official and a family doctor. He spent his childhood on the small island of Jelsa off the Croatian coast, where his parents sent him during WWII. He grew up in Dubrovnik and later studied medicine at the University of Zagreb. When he met his wife Vivian he told her that unless she was willing to bear him at least four children and bring him his cigarettes in jail, then forget about it. They ended up having eight kids together, half of whom he personally delivered.
He lived in Italy and Libya before settling in Canada in the early 1970s. As an activist he spoke out on many issues, from condemning free trade to supporting political dissidents who were wrongfully jailed.
He was the founder and president of the Croatian Committee for Human Rights and started Radio Libertas, a short wave Croatian news program heard all over the world. When Croatia announced its independence and Serbian forces invaded his country he staged daily protests outside of the American consulate. He believed that the most important quality for a doctor to possess was a love for people. He had two busy practices, teaching his patients nutrition and preventive medicine long before it was the fashion. The line ups were long in his waiting room as he never took appointments, but no one was ever turned away. Four years ago he suffered a stroke that he never fully recovered from. He died peacefully with his wife by his side. Visitation will be held on Sunday March 8th, from 6-9 p.m. at Kopriva Taylor Community Funeral Home, 64 Lakeshore Road West, Oakville (one block east of Kerr Street, 905-844-2600). The service will be held on Monday, March 9, 2009 at 10 a.m. at Holy Trinity Parish, 2110 Trafalgar Road, Oakville followed by the interment at Springcreek Cemetery, 1390 Clarkson Road North, Mississauga. To friends and family he leaves behind, Josip will always be a role-model for living life with honesty, integrity and love.