Jovan Arso Zepcevski's Obituary
It is with the greatest sadness that we must tell you that Jovan “Zep” Zepcevski, of Zep Construction, Inc., passed away on November 15, 2022. Jovan will be remembered by us all as a great man who made an impact on so many people. A larger-than-life character, he will be missed by everyone who knew him.
Jovan was born in the Republic of Macedonia, formerly a part of Yugoslavia. It was there that he received his civil engineering degree and was named the country’s best young engineer.
Jovan always dreamed of coming to the United States and in 1969, after working for two years in England and Ireland, he got his US visa, abandoned his MG Midget at the airport, and, went to New York City, just in time to see the moon landing on tv.
Jovan worked first in New York City, then in Chester, Pennsylvania, before becoming the assistant city engineer for Lorain, Ohio.
During his time in Ohio, Jovan became a Professional Engineer and took on his first solo project in Avon, under the guidance of John Dandrea from Associated Contracting, Inc.
After their success in Ohio, Jovan spent two years in Clewiston, FL, constructing one of the largest pump stations on Lake Okeechobee.
In 1973, Jovan formed Zep Construction and, with bonding secured by Bob Andreason, he was able to win his first job – a small water control structure at the Fort Myers Golf Course along McGregor Boulevard. Jovan has always been thankful for the support provided by Forrest Banks and Johnson Engineering for that first opportunity.
Over the next 49 years, Zep Construction, Inc. was able to establish itself as a highly sought after contractor, known for its strong work ethics, ingenuity, and being able to get even the toughest projects done on time. These characteristics led the way for success in constructing hundreds of large scale civil
and transportation projects in Southwest Florida and throughout the state. Some of Zep’s milestone projects include the Estero Parkway /I-75 Overpass, Metro Parkway/Alico Road Overpass, numerous FDOT Design-Build projects throughout the I-75 corridor, numerous SFWMD major water control structures , and the 44th Avenue Bridge over the Braden River which was constructed from a temporary advancing crane trestle that was designed and fabricated in house.
Jovan touched the lives of a countless number of people and his long history in Southwest Florida made him a touchstone in the community.
Jovan will be remembered for being a true embodiment of the American Dream. His passion, ingenuity, and creativity will be embodied in the infrastructure of Southwest Florida for a long time. And most of all, we will remember him as “Zep”, a fearless, intelligent, sometimes outrageous, outstanding man, with a big heart.
A Visitation for Jovan will be conducted from 5:00 - 7:00 PM on Monday, November 21, 2022 inside the Chapel at Fort Myers Memorial Gardens Funeral Home, 1589 Colonial Boulevard, Fort Myers, Florida 33907, (239) 936-0555 and all are welcome to attend. Guests will also be welcome to gather the following day, Tuesday, November 22, 2022, beginning at 12:00 Noon also inside the funeral home chapel for the celebration of his Funeral Service officiated by Pastor Bob Lockwood beginning at 1:00 PM. At the conclusion of these services, guests will recess to adjacent Memorial Gardens Cemetery where Jovan will be laid to rest in the Greenlea Estates section.
In Lieu of Flowers the family suggests a memorial donation be made instead to The Fort Myers Beach Community Foundation: https://fmbcommunityfoundation.com/
To share a story or photo, leave a tribute or to offer condolences to the family at this difficult time please visit Jovan's memorial webpage at www.fortmyersmemororial.com and sign his guestbook.
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