Forest Hills Basketball League

By HEATHER GILMORE - NY Post September 25, 2006 -- A memorial for Radomir Kovacevic, an Olympic judo medalist and Queens father of three who died of cancer on June 14, will be held next week. Kovacevic, 52, of Forest Hills, was a gentle giant of a man who represented Yugoslavia in three Olympics and won a bronze medal in 1980. Shortly after immigrating here in 1985, he gave a judo demonstration at the private Dwight School on the Upper West Side. He spoke of his new-found freedom and sang songs in three languages in a signature booming voice that perfectly fit his 6-foot-4, 290-pound frame. The rousing display spurred Chancellor Stephen Spahn to hire him nearly on the spot, and Kovacevic grew to legendary status at the school. He inspired students - many of them from privileged backgrounds - to get up early for practice and exert themselves to attain heights they didn't know were within their reach. Kovacevic is survived by his wife, Savka, and teen children, Katarina, Aleksandra and Perun. The memorial is scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 3, at 6 p.m. at the Crenshaw Christian Center East at 1 W. 96th St.