In memoriam Ivan Budinčević

On Thursday, 18 September, following a short and serious illness, Ivan Budinčević, official, active member, and cherished spirit of the Democratic Alliance of Croats in Vojvodina (DSHV), passed away unexpectedly. He was born in Subotica, where he completed his primary and secondary education, as well as a degree from the Faculty of Economics. He lived his entire life in Subotica, in a harmonious marriage with his wife Ana (née Miljački Matak), with whom he had two sons, Luka and Matej.

As a young economist, he became involved in the work of the DSHV in the mid-1990s. He served multiple terms as a member of the Subotica Branch Committee, was a member of the DSHV Council from 2008 to 2012, and was a long-time delegate of the party to the Federal Union of European Nationalities (FUEN). He also contributed for a time to the DSHV's monthly publication Glas ravnice. He was one of the few DSHV electors to participate in all five convocations of the Croatian National Council and served as a councilor in the fourth convocation (2018–2022), as well as a member of several DSHV commissions and committees. On behalf of the DSHV, he was appointed to the boards of directors and supervisory boards of numerous cultural institutions. Until his retirement, he worked in the Department of Agriculture of the City Administration of Subotica, where his advisory role greatly benefited local farmers in the Subotica region.

He was actively engaged in the social and cultural life of the Croatian community. He was a member and official—tehniko (technical coordinator)—of the Croatian National Football Team, with which he participated in every tournament since its founding 20 years ago, winning numerous medals at European and World championships. For several years, he also led the DSHV futsal team. He was an active participant and referee at the Reapers’ Competition during Dužijanca and supported the restoration of roadside crosses as part of the “Bunjevci Way of the Cross” project. He will also be remembered as a participant and promoter of the Camino in Subotica—a faith-based walking pilgrimage that he both practiced and helped popularize during his life. In recent years, on his own initiative, he regularly maintained the courtyard of the DSHV House.

He was known for his loyalty to the DSHV even in difficult times, his openness to dialogue, calm demeanor, cheerful spirit, and sense of humor.

With the passing of Ivan Budinčević, the DSHV has lost a faithful member and a great and good man. In accordance with his wishes, the funeral will be held privately, within the family circle.

FUEN expresses sincere condolences to his family, friends and colleagues.

In memoriam

Ivan Budinčević

(Subotica, 20. veljače 1959. – Subotica, 18. rujna 2025.)

U četvrtak, 18. rujna, nakon kratke i teške bolesti, iznenada je preminuo dužnosnik, aktivni član i dobri duh Demokratskog saveza Hrvata u Vojvodini Ivan Budinčević. Rođen je u Subotici, gradu u kojem se i školovao, završivši osnovnu školu, Gimnaziju te Ekonomski fakultet. I cijeli je životni vijek proživio u Subotici u skladnom braku sa suprugom Anom, rođ. Miljački Matak, s kojom ima dva sina: Luku i Mateja.

Kao mladi ekonomist, sredinom devedesetih se uključio u rad DSHV-a. U nekoliko mandata bio je član Odbora Podružnice „Subotica“, član Vijeća DSHV-a od 2008. do 2012. godine te stalni izaslanik naše stranke u Federalnoj uniji europskih manjina – FUEN-u. Surađivao je jedno vrijeme u mjesečniku DSHV-a „Glas ravnice“. Bio je jedan od rijetkih elektora DSHV-a u svih pet dosadašnjih saziva Hrvatskog nacionalnog vijeća, vijećnik HNV-a u IV. Sazivu (2018. – 2022.) te član nekoliko povjerenstava i komisija DSHV-a. Uime DSHV-a bio je biran za člana upravnih i nadzornih odbora brojnih kulturnih ustanova i institucija. Posljednje vrijeme, do umirovljena, radio je u Odjelu za poljoprivredu Gradske uprave Subotica i svojim savjetodavnim djelovanjem bio od velike koristi poljoprivrednicama iz okolice Subotice.

Bio je angažiran u društvenom i kulturnom životu hrvatske zajednice. Član je i dužnosnik – „tehniko“, to jest koordinator Hrvatske nogometne reprezentacije, s kojom je od osnutka prije 20 godina bio na svim natjecanjima i osvajao brojne medalje na europskim i svjetskim natjecanjima. Vodio je također više godina malonogometnu ekipu DSHV-a. Aktivist je i sudac na „Takmičenju risara“ na „Dužijanci“ te podupiratelj aktivnosti na obnovi križeva krajputaša u okviru programa „Bunjevački put križa“. Mnogi će ga pamtiti i kao sudionika i promotora Camina u Subotici – vjerske pobožnosti koja počiva na pješačenju, koju je prakticirao i popularizirao za života. Posljednjih nekoliko godina samoinicijativno je održavao urednim dvorište Doma DSHV-a. Krasila ga je odanost DSHV-u i u teškim vremenima, spremnost na vođenje dijaloga i smirenost te vedar duh i raspoloženost za šalu.

Smrću Ivana Budinčevića DSHV je izgubio vjernog člana, velikog i dobrog čovjeka! Prema volji pokojnika, sahrana će biti održana u krugu obitelji.