{"id":201378,"date":"2026-02-14T00:15:11","date_gmt":"2026-02-13T22:15:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/?p=201378"},"modified":"2026-02-14T00:15:12","modified_gmt":"2026-02-13T22:15:12","slug":"chicago-mourns-zuca-the-tragically-killed-serb-in-his-last-message-urged-a-friend-to-leave-trucking-finish-college-and-said-a-wonderful-life-photo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/chicago-mourns-zuca-the-tragically-killed-serb-in-his-last-message-urged-a-friend-to-leave-trucking-finish-college-and-said-a-wonderful-life-photo\/","title":{"rendered":"CHICAGO MOURNS \u201c\u017dU\u0106A\u201d: The tragically killed Serb in his last message urged a friend to leave trucking, finish college and said: \u201cA wonderful life\u201d (PHOTO)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
A Serb originally from Leskovac, Aleksandar Coni\u0107 \u017du\u0107a (34), was killed yesterday behind the wheel of his truck in a serious traffic accident that occurred in the U.S. state of Georgia on Interstate I-75.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Everyone is mourning Aleksandar, who had lived in Chicago for the past ten years. Serbia mourns, America mourns. His parents and brother are inconsolable, as is his wife, who was left alone with their two small children, their sons. Friends are still in shock and disbelief, and everyone who knew him in the large Serbian and Balkan community in these areas has only words of praise for Aleksandar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Slobodan Veli\u010dkovi\u0107, his best friend since the days when they studied together at the Faculty of Physical Education (DIF) in Leposavi\u0107, where they were also roommates for four years, reveals to Serbian Times what Aleksandar Coni\u0107 wrote to him just before his death.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
In addition to being friends, Veli\u010dkovi\u0107 worked for Coni\u0107\u2019s company, so they were constantly in contact. It was the same yesterday, everything seemed like just another ordinary workday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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We were texting a few hours before the accident, business communication, trucks, routes… And then, suddenly, he starts sending me messages urging me to leave trucking and finish medical school: \u201cCimo (that\u2019s what we called each other since our student roommate days), you are a man for whom it\u2019s a shame not to be a doctor and not to practice medicine. You\u2019re not designed for a truck, just as I\u2019m not for a doctor. If you can, Cimo, go ahead, because you can work until you\u2019re 70. You don\u2019t have an age limit. You could even open a private clinic…,\u201d Slobodan tearfully recalls their last communication.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019m reading these messages now and I feel like crying. In the final moments of his life, he was thinking about others, about me, about what I should do with my life. That\u2019s the kind of man Aleksandar was, caring, attentive, everyone loved him, says our interlocutor, and the author of these lines can confirm it, because yesterday the Serbian Times newsroom received many calls from our readers who knew this tragically deceased young man and wanted to say how wonderful he was.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Slobodan says that recently he had been urging Aleksandar to stop driving a truck…<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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I often asked him why he struggled so much even though he had his own company and employees, why he had to drive while his wife and two small children were waiting for him at home, why he didn\u2019t live like all the other trucking owners? And he would tell me: \u201cBrother, for me to live like a boss, given this crisis in our business, I would have to lie to and cheat all of you, my employees and drivers, to shortchange you on routes. This way it\u2019s easier for me, I struggle, I drive, but I sleep peacefully,\u201d he would tell me.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
That last morning Aleksandar stopped the truck to have breakfast and sent a photo to Slobodan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cA wonderful life, Cimo,\u201d he wrote. And on the table in front of him were an open can of sardines and a jar of jam. He was modest. He saw that his driver had posted a photo eating a steak in some restaurant, so he joked at his own expense: \u201cWho\u2019s the boss here, and who\u2019s the worker?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
ROOMMATES AND BEST FRIENDS: Slobodan and Aleksandar went through a lot together (in the photo also their roommate and college friend, Filip Uro\u0161evi\u0107)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Help a mother with two children survive the worst<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the family of Aleksandar Coni\u0107, his job was the only source of income, and therefore his wife and children urgently need assistance in order to secure basic living conditions. An initiative has been launched on the GoFundMe platform and ALL THOSE WHO WISH CAN DONATE MONEY HERE! ALL IN SHOCK AND ALL PRAISE HIM: Aleksandar Coni\u0107 left behind a great, shining mark<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
In a post on this platform, his friends wrote the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWith deep sadness we inform you that Aleksandar Coni\u0107 tragically lost his life in a truck traffic accident that occurred early this morning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Aleksandar was a wonderful father, a beloved husband and a sincere friend. He was a man with a big heart, always ready to help others, hardworking and devoted to his family. His sudden departure has left a huge void and pain that is hard to describe in words.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He is survived by his wife and two young sons to whom he was the whole world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In these most difficult moments, we want to provide support to his family and help them get through the days ahead. The funds collected through this action will be intended for funeral expenses and financial assistance to the family so that they may have at least a little relief during this painful period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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