Submitted by: Nadine Hardin

Name:  Kovas, Marchmont P.

Names in Obituary:  Kovas, Allen, Parent, Kovacsics, Racz, Pavlak, Kokot, Stretch, Bingaman

South Bend Tribune, Obituaries; July 26, 2000

Marchmont P. Kovas (March 22, 1913 - July 23, 2000)

Marchmont Peter Kovas, 87, of 608 Park Avenue, veteran South Bend Tribune reporter, decorated World War II veteran and longtime community leader, died after an illness at 12:37 a.m. on Sunday, July 23, in his home.

Marchmont was the city government reporter for the Tribune for many years. He covered city politics from the time Mayor Lloyd Allen was in office until the term of Mayor Roger Parent. His articles in The Tribune helped bring attention to numerous major developments in South Bend's history during his career.

He was born on March 22, 1913, in New Carlisle, Ind., to Louis and Theresa Kovacsics, and graduated from New Carlisle High School in 1931. He was preceded in death by his parents, Louis Kovacsics and Theresa (Racz) Kovacsics; and by two brothers, Joseph Kovas of Laguna Niguel, Calif., and Steven Kovas of South Bend.

He was drafted to serve in the military on March 26, 1942, as a private. After numerous promotions, he became a first lieutenant of E Company in the 363rd Infantry of the United States Army.

He won the Silver Star, the highest military honor, for gallantry in action on April 27, 1945, in Legnago, Italy. In the battle for Legnago, Lieutenant Kovas moved his men through heavy automatic fire, over-exposed terrain, under excellent enemy observation, to encircle the enemy. He crawled himself over the fire-swept terrain toward the enemy position. He threw grenades into the enemy camp, causing their surrender.

For his courage and valor he also won two other of the military's highest honors, the Bronze Star, for meritorious service in combat, and the Purple Heart, for being wounded in action.

Marchmont returned to the states after being discharged from the service in 1945 to continue his journalism career. In 1948 Marchmont covered the fledgling career of the first woman pharmacist to work in South Bend, Dolores Pavlak. He married his lovely "source" for his story on Feb. 16, 1950, and celebrated 50 years of marriage with her earlier this year.

During his marriage, Marchmont and Dolores were very active in the Park Avenue Neighborhood Association, working hard to maintain the historical integrity of the beautiful vintage homes and cobblestone streets in the city. He was also an amateur aviator who enjoyed flying small aircraft.

In 1983 Marchmont retired from the Tribune and moved to Waco, Texas, and then to San Antonio, Texas, where Dolores took positions in Army medical hospitals. In 1989, Marchmont returned to Italy with Dolores when she took a position at a Defense Department hospital in Vicenza, Italy.

While living in Italy, Marchmont had the opportunity to return to his World War II battle sites to reminisce. He was also welcomed back with open arms and recognized as a local hero by many in the Italian villages who remembered the devastation of the war. Marchmont was honored at numerous Italian D-Day celebrations in 1995, which commemorated the 50th anniversary of the end of the war. He was the featured speaker and guest at high schools, and marched in community parades.

Marchmont returned to his home in South Bend with Dolores when she retired in 1997.

Marchmont is survived by Dolores, his wife; two daughters, Marcia (Dale) Kokot of Granger, Ind., and Deborah (Thomas) Kovas-Stretch of South Bend; and by four grandchildren, Anne Katharine (Katie) Kokot, Michael Alex Kokot, Alex March Kokot and Hope Anne Stretch.

He is also survived by two brothers, Louis Kovacsics of Niles, Mich., and Eugene Kovas of New Carlisle, Ind.; and by a sister, Irma Bingaman of Mishawaka, Ind.

Friends and family may attend a memorial service at 11 a.m. on Saturday, July 29, in the Welsheimer Funeral Home on William Street, South Bend, which will be followed by a memorial luncheon in the University Club at Notre Dame.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society.