She was with her friend and companion of 5 years, Josko Silbrocic, who was also seriously injured. Zeljka is survived by her parents, Katarina and Zeljko, who reside in Zagreb, Croatia. Zeljka mourned the loss of her devoted dog, Flek, who passed away a month ago.

 

Zeljka was an extraordinary person. She grew up in Croatia and came to the United States in 1989 to further her studies and obtained a PhD in Electrical Engineering from Princeton in 1993. Zeljka subsequently became an active member of the Association of Graduate Alumni of Princeton.

 

After her studies, she joined Mckinsey & Co.'s New York Office in 1994 to work on assignments for IT and telecom clients. In 1997 she moved to Credit Suisse First Boston's investment banking group, still maintaining her focus on technology and communications. Zeljka's talents were catalyzed by a career in venture capital. She was a partner at International Real Returns, LLC until 2001 and then a partner at Jerusalem Venture Partners until 2005. At the time of her death, she was working with Columbia University's technology transfer office and contemplating building her own investment firm. Zeljka was a highly accomplished professional and regarded in her industry for her high acuity insight and her dedication to hard work.

 

Zeljka was an avid skiier, sailor and runner. She was a patron of the arts, opera and symphony.While her attachment to her native Croatia and its culture remained very strong, she embraced life in the United States and had recently become a U.S. citizen.

 

Most impressive, Zeljka's beauty, warmth, gentle spirit and vibrant love of life blessed us all. The breadth and depth of her friendships is awe-inspiring. She had friends all over the world and it was not infrequent that she would host dinner parties in New York or Dubrovnik where Zeljka's new friends would make friends with Zeljka's old friends and it felt like a big family. Zeljka had a gift for loving. Zeljka's father has been ill with Parkinson's Disease. She was a devoted and loving daughter and faciliated his care in New York and Zagreb.

 

Zeljka will be sorely missed by her family and friends.