‘Always with smiles’: Community remembers 17-year-old boy killed in Glenview crash

GLENVIEW, Ill. — A memorial service on Wednesday brought together hundreds of people to honor a Glenbrook South High School senior killed in a violent car crash Sunday night.

It was an emotional outpouring of support, as family, friends, clergy and other community members gathered around a growing memorial at the site of the crash in Glenview that claimed the life of 17-year-old Marko Niketic.

“He was always with smiles, always open, very smart, really gifted,” Rev. Darko Spasojevic of Chicago’s Holy Resurrection Serbian Orthodox Cathedral said.

Many in the community said while they have found themselves at a loss for words, the level of love and support shown for Niketic and his family speaks volumes in itself.

“It’s amazing to see. You don’t want to turn it into something positive, but it really is incredible to see how much love he had and support he’s getting,” Dylan Ward said.

Ward, a 2019 graduate of Glenbrook South, said he didn’t know Niketic personally but has heard countless stories about the way he impacted his classmates and friends.

READ MORE: ‘Ball of sunshine’: Friends mourn loss of teen killed in Glenview car crash

“I’ve been driving down this street every day coming back from work, and I’ve honestly just been kind of avoiding it, because I wasn’t ready for the emotions,” Ward said. “I can’t even imagine what people who are close to him are going through if I’m feeling this way.”

Ward stopped by the growing memorial of flowers, messages, photos of Niketic and other items at the site of the crash site Wednesday afternoon, ahead of the memorial service held there Wednesday night.

Throughout the memorial service, those who gathered to remember Niketic leaned on each other for support.

“One common theme is that he had an energy and charisma to bring children and people together,” Spasojevic said.

The memorial service took place one night before loved ones will say their final goodbyes to Niketic during his visitation and funeral service Thursday morning at St. Sava Monastery in Libertyville.

Active in community

Niketic’s impact has left a lasting impression on all who had the chance to know him. The community is remembering him for his sense of compassion, his ability to bring joy to everyone, and his passion for the things he loved to do.

His loss is leaving a massive hole in the hearts of many in the Glenview community.

As Wednesday’s memorial showed, even after his death, Niketic continues to bring together the community — friends and strangers alike — to celebrate his life.

Spasojevic, who’s known Niketic and his family for years, said the teen was an active member of the church’s folklore group.

“He’s really missed in the community at large, as well as in our church,” Spasojevic said.

Loved ones also said Niketic had big goals and dreams he hoped to accomplish. After prom and graduation, two milestones he never got to experience, Niketic was planning to attend Miami University in Ohio.

Loved ones say Niketic wanted to become a real estate entrepreneur. His goal was to open his own business, but it was something he had already started while in high school.

“I know that he wanted to be an entrepreneur in real estate, and he already started his own small business,” Spasojevic said.

Violent crash

Around 11 p.m. Sunday, Niketic was killed when he was hit while driving in the 1200 block of East Lake Avenue, near Meadow Lane, in Glenview. His girlfriend was in the car with him, his friends said.

According to the Glenview Police Department, the driver of a Ford Mustang slammed into Niketic’s sedan. The impact was so violent, it split Niketic’s vehicle in half.

A witness told WGN-TV the driver of the Mustang flew past him at a high rate of speed and was turning their headlights on and off before picking up speed and slamming into Niketic’s car.

Niketic was pronounced dead at the scene, and his passenger — who friends say was his girlfriend — was taken to the hospital after she was critically injured.

The driver believed to have caused the crash and their passenger were also taken to an area hospital.

Glenview police said the driver of that car is still receiving medical treatment and that interviews are being conducted with everyone involved, as well as with witnesses.

Police are working with other agencies, including the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office, on the investigation. No charges have been announced so far.

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