Edward A. Monovich

Alongside a ready laugh and smile, Ed shared a love of people and an easy conversation style with his role models, grandfather and namesake, Edward Peter Monovich, and father Robert Edward Monovich. Ed valued family, tradition, and connection, as well as exploration, adventure, and experimentation.  He was nimble with words and concepts and passionate about education, mountains, sports, dogs, and art.  He is remembered as a dear friend, devoted father and husband.

Ed was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan on August 24, 1970, a son of Diana K. (Checton) and the late Robert E. Monovich. A graduate of Kalamazoo Central High School, he went on to earn his Bachelor of Arts Degree from Kalamazoo College with a double major in Biology and Studio Art. After earning his Master of Fine Arts in Painting and Drawing from the University of Texas at Austin, Ed began his career as an artist with solo and group shows in Denver, Williamsburg Brooklyn, Bronx, SoHo, Austin, Boston, Chicago, and Miami.  Ed’s early career work encouraged the viewer to interact with or contribute directly to the art, a theme he maintained through the rest of his life. Ed’s recent work showed locally in Boston, across the US, and internationally in South America and Europe and reflected his interest in additional media such as print making, bronze casting, mixed media, sculpture, and performance. Collaborative and interdisciplinary projects with artists and scientists marked his later work, such as “Dadabex: Conservation Connection and Hybridity,” Fog X Flo performance at the Emerald Necklace in Boston, MA, the “Bearded Cinematographer” performance art at the Swiss National Park in Zernez, Switzerland, and his “Steinbockovich” project on the mountain ibex (steinbock/stambecco) in collaboration with researchers at the Gran Paradiso National Park in the Italian Alps. Since 2011, Ed enjoyed connecting with students and faculty as a dedicated and esteemed professor of art at the Massachusetts College of Art and Design.

He married Lauren Gilchrist on October 5, 1996 in Stetson Chapel at Kalamazoo College and the pair lived in Texas, Colorado, and New Jersey before settling in Belmont in 2004.

In addition to his wife, Lauren G. (Gilchrist) Monovich, of Belmont, he leaves his children, Viola, Robert “Green”, and Thea Monovich; his mother, Diana K. Monovich of Manistee, Michigan; his brother Robert C. “Chris” Monovich (Kim) of Naperville, Illinois and his sister, Jennifer L. Merlo (Scott) of Kalamazoo, Michigan and many nieces, nephews, and their families. 

Family and friends will honor and remember Edward’s life by gathering for calling hours in The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street (Rte. 20), Waltham on Thursday, January 4^th from 4 to 7 p.m.  There will be an archival sketchbook available for those wishing to share small drawings or notes with the family. His Funeral Mass will be celebrated in Saint Jude Church, 147 Main Street, Waltham, on Friday morning at 10:30 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that charitable donations be made in Edward’s memory. The family has selected two options to reflect Ed’s life work. To support developing artists, donations can be made to the Massachusetts College of Art and Design online at massart.edu/give (http://massart.edu/give).  (Please select "In memory of Edward Monovich" from the pull-down menu.) All donations received will be put towards the Mastodon Emergency Fund, which supports students facing emergencies or other unexpected financial hardships.  To support the mountain ibex (steinbock), donations can be made to the BioMA (https://www.facebook.com/BioMAssociazione/), which is linked to the Gran Paradiso National Park in Italy.  Donations can be made through the Edward Steinbockovich campaign using this  link or QR code below.