Milana ‘Mim’ Bizic of Aleppo honored by Tesla Science Foundation
Milana “Mim” Karlo Bizic took her then-11-year-old son Nick on vacation on July 1, 1981, for his birthday. There were two sites she wanted him to see — Niagara Falls and the statue of Serbian inventor Nikola Tesla. “I wanted him to experience the world’s wonder of Niagara Falls but
Milana “Mim” Karlo Bizic took her then-11-year-old son Nick on vacation on July 1, 1981, for his birthday. There were two sites she wanted him to see — Niagara Falls and the statue of Serbian inventor Nikola Tesla. “I wanted him to experience the world’s wonder of Niagara Falls but especially to find Tesla’s statue, which we had heard so much about from the Serbian grapevine,” said Bizic. “It was such a meaningful birthday. ”The trip was one way Bizic remains connected to her Serbian ancestors and passes down that tradition to future generations, including her son and granddaughter, Jocey. Sharing the story of an accomplished Serbian is important to keep his legacy and Serbian culture alive, said Bizic, of Masonic Village at Sewickley in Aleppo. Her commitment to the Serbian community was recognized by the Tesla Science Foundation on July 10. “Serbia is such a part of me,” Bizic said. “I believe it is important for future generations to know about Tesla. ”The Tesla Science Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to education, science, innovation and preserving Tesla’s legacy, was formed after Nikola Lonchar and a group of enthusiasts founded the Nikola Tesla Inventors Club on July 10, 2004, at the Serbian Orthodox Church in Philadelphia. As interest in Tesla’s life and legacy grew beyond inventors, Lonchar, who lives outside Philadelphia in Malvern, Pa. , said they expanded the mission and established the Tesla Science Foundation. The network connects more than 20,000 members worldwide and includes Nikola Tesla Clubs, which promote science, innovation, education and cultural diplomacy among young people and local communities. Every year, the Tesla Science Foundation awards individuals for achievements in science, technology and/or writing related to Tesla. Bizic,who turns 85 on July 30, was presented with one of those awards, the Tesla Spirit Award, recognizing a lifetime of dedication, inspiration and service. She traveled to Philadelphia with her friend, Georgette Brnilovich Osman and her daughter Jessica. Bizic’s cousin, Pittsburgh-based architect Dennis Astorino, also attended. “I was completely shocked when I heard about the award,” Bizic said. “When I think about it, this is not just me that has done this. Through the years, my parents and grandparents and siblings, my husband and son, my entire family, my colleagues and friends have all helped to make this all possible. Whatever you do in life, you rarely do it alone. ”Also honored was Igor Obradovic, 49, a filmmaker, actor and producer from the Serbian Drama Theater in Chicago. He was recognized as Person of the Year, honoring his achievements, leadership and contributions. Obradovic is producing and acting in a film with the working title of “Ground Down,” expected to debut in 2027. He traveled to Philadelphia for the event held on Tesla’s 170th birthday at the Philadelphia Ethical Society. Organized by the Tesla Science Foundation, the Consulate General of the Republic of Serbia in New York and American Paradigm Schools from Philadelphia, the event also coincided with the U. S. celebrating its 250th birthday. “It’s a privilege to be recognized,” said Obradovic, whose work was featured at the Moscow International Film Festival in 2022. “People should know about Tesla. We are using something today that he discovered in the 1800s. He was one of a kind and he means something, not only to us from Serbia, but to the world. ”Bizic and Obradovic should have a documentary made about their lives and accomplishments, said Lonchar, president of the foundation. He said both represent the very heart of the cultural and civic diplomacy of the Serbian people. “It would be wonderful for future generations to have the opportunity to learn from their experiences and understand the important contributions they have made to our community,” Lonchar said. “Mim Bizic and Igor Obradovic have spent many years building bridges between cultures through art, education and civic engagement, making them especially deserving recipients of these honors. ”Most people know Tesla through the electric car company that bears his name. American entrepreneurs Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning founded Tesla Inc. in 2003, naming it in honor of the inventor’s contributions to electrical engineering and innovation, Lonchar said. Elon Musk joined the company the following year. “Tesla wasn’t known to the rest of the world until Elon Musk really pivoted him forward,” Bizic said. “Tesla was a poor Serbian immigrant who worked so hard to achieve so much. He was brilliant. Everybody recognizes his genius now, but at that time they didn’t. ”Before immigrating to America in 1884, Tesla worked as an engineer and electrician in Europe. During his lifetime, he invented, improved or anticipated hundreds of technologies, including alternating current, wireless communication, remote control and robotics, Lonchar said. George Westinghouse recognized the importance of Tesla’s alternating current system and helped make large-scale electrical power generation and distribution possible, Lonchar said. “I believe George Westinghouse also deserves far greater public recognition for his role in this historic achievement,” Lonchar said. Tesla became a U. S. citizen in 1891, the same year he invented the Tesla coil. Two years later, Westinghouse used Tesla’s AC system to light the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago, demonstrating that alternating current was the future of electric power, Lonchar said. Tesla also conducted pioneering research in high-frequency electricity, wireless transmission and X-rays, and accepted the Edison Medal in 1917 despite his well-known professional disagreements with Thomas Edison, Lonchar said. “Tesla helped shape the Second Industrial Revolution, but beyond his inventions, he inspired the world through his humility, generosity and vision of using science to improve life for everyone,” Lonchar said. “To many of us, Tesla is not simply a great inventor — he is a timeless symbol of knowledge, peace and service to humanity. ”Tesla also designed the first hydroelectric power plant at Niagara Falls, N. Y. , proving alternating current could deliver electricity over long distances, Lonchar said. A statue of Tesla stands on Goat Island overlooking the hydroelectric project, and another in the Buffalo area honors his contributions to the region and the history of electricity. Tesla died Jan. 7, 1943, in New York on Serbian Christmas. A retired teacher, Bizic grew up on Pittsburgh’s South Side, graduated from the University of Pittsburgh and spent 42 years teaching, most of them in the Quaker Valley School District. She was not born in Serbia, and neither were her parents, but her grandparents were. Her late husband Gus, who was also Serbian and shared her love of the country, was a teacher for Pittsburgh Public Schools. They met at the Serbian National Federation event in 1962. She and her son Nick planned to attend this year’s event July 17-19, celebrating its 125th anniversary on Pittsburgh’s South Side. “To be awarded such an award in such a prestigious company meant everything,” Bizic said. “It meant that I must be doing something meaningful for my country that turned 250 years old. I was honored to get this award on the 170th anniversary of the birth of the genius who lit the world. ”