It is with great sadness that we announce the sudden and untimely passing of our beloved Danica Stanimirović. Danica passed on January, 17 2024 at the Ottawa General Hospital.
Danica’s life was nothing short of exceptional anyway you look at it.
Danica got the very first public acknowledgment of her talent for math and science in her native Serbia in 1977 when selected, after a grueling entrance exam, as one of only 120 freshmen students of the prestigious Belgrade Mathematical Grammar School. Danica very soon realized that the life has way more to offer besides the “core business” of math and science (in both of which she naturally excelled). During her teenage years, Danica developed love for art. Her literary work was awarded on numerous occasions during her high school and university years. Unknown to many, Danica was also part of a very vibrant Belgrade punk scene in the early 1980s as a keyboard player for a local band named “We want no compromises”. Indeed, throughout her life, she was never willing to make any compromise when it came to her professional or personal integrity.
Danica began her very successful studies of Medicine in 1981 followed immediately by her Ph.D. studies that she pursued in parallel with her clinical residency activities. In 1988 she became the youngest Ph.D. holder in former Yugoslavia, a country of some 23 million souls.
Danica began her North American scientific career in 1991 by successfully completing a two-year postdoctoral stunt at NIH in Bethesda, MD. Her work didn’t get unnoticed by the NRC management and, in the summer of 1993, Danica and her husband Dusan moved North to Ottawa where she would spend over 30 years with the NRC until her untimely departure this past Wednesday.
During her 31 year tenure with the National Research Council in Ottawa, she achieved everything that can be reasonably expected of a human being. At the time of her premature death she was the Director of the NRC’s Translational Bioscience Department where she has led strategic NRC Programs and served on Scientific Advisory Boards of many biopharma companies and numerous international R&D initiatives. Danica was also an Adjunct Professor at the University of Ottawa and a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences. The Government of Canada recognized her achievements by awarding her the Public Service Award of Excellence in 2023. Danica has authored over 170 manuscripts and holds 22 patents in the field of integrative neuroscience.
While, without a shadow of a doubt, a top notch neuroscientist and a leader, Danica was foremost an exceptional human being. Shy and modest beyond reasonable, Danica would avoid bringing up any of her professional achievements as topics of conversation. It was art, gardening and travels that she enjoyed to chat about. Unconditionally devoted to her husband Dusan, Danica was respected for her intelligence and wisdom and truly loved, by anyone who knew her, for the largesse of her pristine soul.
She was predeceased by her parents Emilija and Branislav. Danica is survived by her husband of 32 years, Dušan Đurić, and her younger brother Dušan Stanimirović (Svjetlana). Danica was the proud aunt of Uroš and Luka.
Visitation will be held at the Beechwood National Memorial Centre, 280 Beechwood Avenue, Ottawa, on Tuesday, January 30, 2024 at 2PM. A Memorial Service will follow in the Sacred Space at 3:00PM, followed by a reception. For those not able to attend the Service in person, the Service will be Live Streamed - you may register here.
Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to Danica Stanimirović Memorial Fund.
Digital Guestbook
A truly wonderful woman
Marie Roumi
My most heartfelt condolences to Danica’s family and friends. We share in your grief for this profound loss. Dana was an inspiring and influential leader I deeply admired. It was a privilege to have worked with her.
As a strong scientific visionary and pillar, she leaves a great void at NRC-HHT and will be dearly missed.
Britta Engelhardt
I am deeply saddened to learn about the untimely passing of Dana. Being the same age we have been in touch since starting our independent research groups both in 1993 and beyond discussing brain barriers at numerous occasions exchanged our experiences about academic life. Dana was a role model with respect to sharing data and ideas, supporting colleagues and young scientists and thus for our entire field. She has significantly contributed to advancing brain barrier research and shaping the open, friendly and constructive spirit in our community. My sincere condolences go to her family and friends. We will miss her deeply.
Sonia Lamontagne
My Sincerest Condolences to the family.
It was a privilege to work with Danica.
Danica was a great scientist, manager and mentor. She was very enthusiastic, dedicated and supportive, such a nice person.
Even with her busy agenda, she was taking the time to have discussion and even to write us personal kind notes.
She was also an amazing artist. Her paintings reflect on her creativity and sensitivity.
Her loss has such a great impact on us at HHT.
I will greatly miss her, I will hold on great memories and continue to be inspired by her.
Dongling Zhang
Dana was more than just a leader; she was a source of support and inspiration to us all.
Dana went above and beyond, making time for each team member. I'll never forget her visit when my first baby arrived—her genuine care and warmth meant the world to me.
Smart, capable, and inspiring, Dana led with grace and wisdom. Her impact extended beyond the workplace; she cared for everyone around her, leaving a lasting legacy of kindness and compassion.
May her memory inspire us to be as caring, dedicated, and resilient as she was. Rest in peace, dear Dana, your influence will live on in our hearts.
Nadia Mameri
I am deeply saddened by the unexpected loss of an extraordinary woman, mentor and leader, Dr. Danica Stanimirovic. Dana had a truly extraordinary emotional intelligence and was an unfailingly positive colleague. Her accomplishments as a scientist and inventor, as well as her humanity, had a profound impact on all of her colleagues at CNR. Her passionate approach to life and work was an example to all those around her. She will be fondly remembered by all who knew her.
Nacho Romero
It is with great sadness that I have learnt these news. I collaborated with Dana in the past and she will be sorely missed in the field. My thoughts are with those closest to her.
Joel S. Pachter
She was truly a cherished colleague for whom I held the utmost respect. May her memory be a blessing to her friends and family.
Anne Lenferink
My sincere condolences to Dana’s family and friends. I am still reeling… extremely saddened… not able to wrap my head around the devastating news of her passing. Dana gave so much and still had so much to give, in so many ways. I had the privilege to work with her at the NRC since 2000. Her passing has left an enormous gap and I will miss her very much.
Joanna & Adam Chodobski
Our most heartfelt condolences to Dushan and Danica’s family. We share your grief after this sudden loss of life. Dana’s premature departure is a shock to all of us.
We met Dana and Dushan almost thirty years ago and became friends instantly. In addition to interest in biomedical science that Dana and us shared, four of us enjoined good food, wine, art, and music.
Many people have written about Dana’s talents and her achievements in science, but she was also an artist. After a long hiatus, she got back to painting and drawing during the covid pandemic. For us, Dana will be remembered as a genuine, kind, and loving person who cared about others, sometimes more than about herself. Goodbye our friend – you will be greatly missed.
J&A
Dana was a wise, wonderful, gentle, generous and much respected leader at NRC, and quite simply a pleasure to be around - what a tremendous loss. My deepest condolences to Dana's husband and family. May you be comforted during this difficult time and may her memory be eternal. - Roula