Obituary of Elizabeth Dasovich

Elizabeth “Betty” Dasovich died peacefully at home surrounded by her family on May 28, 2017 after a short illness. We will celebrate her life on Saturday, June 17 at the Hilltop Tavern in Iowa City, Iowa. There will be a remembrance service from 3:00 to 3:30 pm followed by a reception till 6 pm.

Betty grew up on the Mesabi Range in northeastern Minnesota during the depression and World War II. The Range was an ethnic stew of Finns, Italians, Southern Slavs, Eastern Europeans and others, attracted by jobs in the iron mines. She had a challenging childhood but was embraced by her friends’ immigrant families. She was a bright, attractive young woman who valued education, hard work, frugality and community. Her love for dancing was well known, and she passed on her skills to many friends. Her small high school class was filled with other driven and intelligent children of immigrants, but she was the Valedictorian.

After graduation, she attended nursing school at St. Luke’s in Duluth, Minnesota. Her career started at the University of Minnesota in the innovative surgery department of Dr. Owen Wangensteen. She took care of the first open heart surgery patient operated on by Dr. C. Walton Lillihei, who introduced controlled cross circulation, a technique that used another human being as the oxygenator for the patient. At that time, there were no post-anesthesia or intensive care units. While in Minneapolis, she also worked in the second dialysis unit in the country and took care of polio patients in iron lungs when many refused to do so for fear of acquiring the infection.

In 1953, she and two women friends sailed to Europe. For three months, they traveled through many countries still recovering from the war. We still enjoy her photo album and the many stories that came out of that adventure.  While hitchhiking through Soviet occupied Vienna, she almost got her camera confiscated for taking unauthorized pictures. Luckily, she managed to avoid an unintended trip to Siberia. She retained a lifelong love of travel. Besides China, Greece, Turkey and other destinations, she returned to France with family members three weeks after the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Towers in 2001. Of special note was an epic road trip through the American West via train and automobile with intrepid traveler and friend, Carol Spaziani. She and her extended family got together many times all over the US for reunions known as “Croatian Vacations.” We celebrated her 75th birthday while skiing (Betty too!) in the “U.P.”, the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.  Her last big trip was to Disney Land in 2015 with her daughter, son and grandson where they had a magical time together.

She and her husband moved to Iowa City in 1959. In the early 1960’s, they started George’s Gourmet, one of the first places in Iowa City to serve pizza. An article in the sixties about Iowa City in Esquire magazine said “The only thing to do on Saturday night is to go to George’s Pizza.”

She had four children. Once they were in school, she returned to nursing. She eventually became the head nurse at the University of Iowa Family Practice Department, helping to build the residency program there. She retired in 1995 and remained in Iowa City except for a brief period in Milwaukee and Springfield, MO. She was active in the University Club and the Senior Center. She kept up with her many friends in Iowa City and elsewhere. Those friends included people from a civic organization called Tri-T, traveling companions, and her Tuesday night group that met for many years. Over the last couple of decades, that group met at the Hilltop Tavern. Betty wasn’t interested in alcohol, but she did enjoy the community provided by this cohesive group of longtime friends.  She also enjoyed many four legged companions, including Shep, Duchess, Sophie, Baxter, Zoe and others.

She is survived by her children - Judy Dasovich of Springfield, MO, Susan Dasovich of Iowa City, Greg Dasovich of Milwaukee, and Mark Dasovich (Karin) of Milwaukee, and grandchildren Beth (Aaron), Alex, Maddie, Michael, Katie, and Evan.

We (Betty’s children) would like to thank Iowa City Hospice and all our friends, near and far, for their support during Mom’s passing. We would also like to recognize Mom’s family medicine doctor, Katharine Saunders, MD, for her wise and compassionate care. In lieu of flowers, you are invited to make memorial contributions to the Iowa City Free Medical Clinic or the organization of your choice. Online condolences may be directed to www.gayandciha.com. We hope to see you all at the Hilltop to remember and celebrate our amazing mother and grandmother.