Dr. Lester J. Bolanovich

Born in St. Louis, Missouri on December 26, 1925, Lester J. Bolanovich passed from this world peacefully on Wednesday, January 22, 2025.  His parents, John and Leona (Zavison) Bolanovich were child immigrants from Montenegro, Yugoslavia. Lester was preceded in death by his three sisters, Jean Bolanovich, Marian Zelenovich and Julie Kaemmer. His beautiful and loving wife of over 63 years, Joyce Wilson Bolanovich, also preceded him in death. Lester grew up during the Depression and was a great financial support to his family, working many jobs as a young man, and eventually putting himself through medical school. He graduated from the University of Pittsburgh Medical School in 1951 and completed a residency in psychiatry at St. Francis General Hospital. After completing his residency, he provided care to inpatients at the hospital in addition to the patients from his private practice, which he established in Oakland in 1957 and later moved to Lawrenceville in 1985. But more importantly, he met his wife at St. Francis, where she was working as a registered nurse. After his residency, he served two years in the Navy at Camp LeJeune, North Carolina, before returning to Pittsburgh to set up his practice and to start his family. He was also a member of the Pittsburgh Psychoanalytic Institute. Lester’s passion and joy was two-fold---his family and his patients. He was a generous man, ever ready to offer his experience and “advice,” as well as financial assistance, to both family and friends. During his medical and psychiatric practice of over 60 years, he provided valuable and skillful treatment to his patients, who loved him well, many of whom were with him for decades. Lester is survived by his three children and their families---Lisa Wroblewski (Ray), Susan Washburn (Jim), and John Bolanovich (Allison).  He was “Papa” to Andrew Wroblewski (Nicole), John Wroblewski, Benjamin and Caroline Washburn, and Noah and Kirah Bolanovich, and he was “GrandPapa” to Emmanuel and Augustin Wroblewski.  He will also be missed by his brother-in-law, Dr. John S. Wilson (Winnie Jo) and their family, along with many nieces and nephews.

Friends will be received at Wolfe Memorial, LLC, Forest Hills Chapel, 3600 Greensburg Pike, Pittsburgh PA 15221, on Saturday, February 8, from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Child Fund International, Inc., www.childfund.org.

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.