Your news Memorial lauds life of Gurnee pharmacist
Submitted by Nada K. Sizemore
Zora Kosanovich was born and raised in Waukegan, but sadly died 10 years ago at the age of 41 after a valiant battle with cancer.
The University of Illinois College of Pharmacy and her family are hosting a Memorial Celebration of her life from 2-5 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 19, at Lovell’s Restaurant, 915 S. Waukegan Road, Lake Forest. Refreshments and appetizers will be provided for attendees.
The Walgreen Zora Kosanovich Memorial Pharmacy Scholarship, established in 2003, is awarded to fourth-year pharmacy students who demonstrate outstanding commitment to the profession of pharmacy through participation in student organizations or professional organizations, strong interest in community pharmacy practice, excellent leadership, communication and interpersonal skills.
The award is given out each spring at the UIC Honors Convocation. To date, nine students have received the inspiration from Zora for a career in pharmacy.
Kosanovich was a dynamic woman with a very special dedication to her pharmacy career with Walgreens. She was a 1979 graduate of Waukegan West High School and the daughter of longtime Waukegan residents Branko and Anna Kosanovich, who still reside there.
She received her R.P.H. from the University of Illinois in 1984 and then began an 18-year career with the Walgreens organization. She worked in the Waukegan Belvedere mall store for many years and started her pharmacy passion at the old St. Therese Hospital as a candy striper during high school, delivering prescriptions for the hospital pharmacy.
At the time of her death, Jan. 17, 2003, she was regional director of pharmacy operations for the Walgreen East Coast Region and a resident of Gurnee.
During her youth, Zora was a longtime member of the St. Nikolas Serbian Orthodox Church in Waukegan and member of the Humane Society and Rho Pi Phi International Pharmaceutical Fraternity. Zora enjoyed drawing and painting and was a big lover of dogs, especially her beloved Alaskan Samoyed dogs.
Zora is survived by her parents, Branko and Anna Kosanovich of Waukegan; sister Nada (David) Sizemore of Cromwell, Conn.; and brothers Milan Kosanovich of Victoria, Texas, and Steven Kosanovich of Waukegan.
For those interested in attending this event or donating to this fund for student scholarship, contact Deb Fox at the UIC pharmacy school at (312) 996-0160 or dfox4@uic by no later than Jan. 11.