Sometimes, some of us are born with a vastness to our imagination and an emotional intelligence that cannot be contained within the confines of our mundane existence.  My nephew, Milan, was one of those touched with a creativity that many of us could not understand.  I was in high school when Milan was born and for the first decade of his life, we had a special relationship.  I remember babysitting him and being young enough so that I could relate to his youthful imagination, but old enough to protect him.  I think one of my shining moments as Milan's uncle was this one Christmas in the early 2000s.  The Nintendo GameCube was that year's Cabbage Patch Doll and Milan really wanted one.  Somehow, I managed to get one for him.  I think we made him open all his other presents first and let him think that we couldn't get a hold of one, but at the last minute I handed him this final gift.  He exploded with excitement and disbelief and I remember playing the GameCube with him for many months to follow.

Eventually, I left for college, moved away, and our lives took different paths.  We grew apart.  As Milan matured, so did his creativity and emotional awareness.  I enjoyed seeing the artist in him grow year after year when I'd visit for the holidays.  He'd ask me what element my spirit was most attracted to and then draw me as an anime character of said element.  I feel like Milan's creative and empathetic mind was a blessing and challenge. He worried not only about how his family and friends were doing, but also about world problems like hunger and poverty.  I remember one year when he was young, he told us he wanted to invent a teleportation machine to be able to teleport food to starving people.  He said he'd donate the millions of dollars he would make with this invention to help those in need.  His grandmother also shared with me that every day Milan would come over and give her a hug and ask her how she was doing.  It must have been such a burden to constantly worry about everyone else.

I imagine Milan is in the afterlife, creating a world of wonder and awe; waiting for his beloved and devoted mother, best friend and cousin Christopher, loquacious step-dad Dave, kind and understanding Aunt Mindi, and the rest of us to join him.  I expect when I pass, he will have a magical air dragon (my favorite element) waiting to pick me up and fly me to his wondrous city in the heavens.  A place of no suffering, pain, or evil, where we can all be together in peace.

Milan Lazar Cirkovic was born into this world on March 19, 1991 in Mount Holly New Jersey.  He departed to eternal life on January 21, 2022 at the tender age of 30 from Harpers Ferry West Virginia.

He was a 2009 graduate of Wild Lake High School in Columbia Maryland.  Aspirations of being a great game creator and animator drove him to seek education from Howard Community College, Blue Ridge Community College, and Shepherd University.  A bright and unique soul, he sought to solve the world's problems.  He loved playing video games, drawing, and was once quoted as saying he would invent the most awesome game ever.  He loved to explore the world through hiking or traveling.   He would watch movies with his mom and ask a million questions.  He would play games with the family – competitive to the end.  He would raid the fridge for late night snacks – and the pantry for his chips.  He is loved and missed.

He was preceded in death by his great grandmother (Marianna Ventre) and grandfather (Peter Montemurno).

He is survived by his mother (Venette Cirkovic-Schrum), step father (David Schrum), grandmother (Kathleen Montemurno), aunts (Mindi-Kim Schrum and Lori Montemurno), uncles (Nicholas Montemurno, Thomas Montemurno, and Scott Kruczek), cousins (Christopher Montermurno and Kristina Raine) and many others.

A memorial service will be held at St Mary's Cemetery in Manahawkin New Jersey.  The date and time of the memorial are still pending.

In lieu of flowers, please make donation to your local homeless shelters and food banks in Milan's name.  He cared deeply about people having food and shelter.