Donald Chovanec

Don was born on May 31, 1931 in Chicago Illinois, to parents Stephen Chovanec and Ruth (Straley) Chovanec. As a youth, he attended Harrison Technical High School, shortly after musician Benny Goodman, and columnist Irv Kupcinet.

Don served in the US Navy aboard the USS Briareus, a repair ship out of Norfolk Virginia , completing his service in the mid fifties.

An avid amateur radio operator, Don used his extensive electronics knowledge to obtain a teaching job at DeVry Institute. After his time at DeVry, he began a long career at Zenith Electronics. One of his proudest achievements while there was being awarded the US patent for the first "Instant-on" circuit for a television set.
Away from work, Don had many and varied interests. Learning to fly, he owned his own plane, up until he sold it to buy a home with his wife, Pat.

Don met Patricia Bashe at the behest of her cousin, Rita Kucera and her husband Bob Kucera, who was a close friend of Don's. A blind date was set up, which both finally agreed to, and the rest was history.
They were married on September 22, 1962 at St. Alexis Church in Bensenville, and enjoyed 58 years of wedded bliss, until Don's passing.

Aside from his technical expertise, Don was also quite creative. Artistically, he painted, and created some if his own furniture, including a huge custom dinner table, and the accompanying artwork that hung above it. His watercolor works were also well regarded.
Growing orchids was a special hobby, as was his collection of clocks and lighthouses. Dancing, bowling, and roller skating were also favorite activities.

He was especially fond of the music of Henry Mancini, and the comic character SpongeBob SquarePants.
Don was preceded in death by his brothers Robert, Elmer, and Paul, and Pat's sister Mary Ann Brabec, and survived by has widow Pat, and brother-in-law Frank Brabec, as well as many nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, a donation to fight Alzheimer's disease might be nice.