Timothy W. Raykovich, MD, of Munster, Indiana and New Buffalo, Michigan, passed away on Friday, March 13, 2026, after several months of hospitalization, during which he fought with characteristic courage against complications from heart failure. A beloved husband, father, brother, uncle, and friend, Tim leaves behind a legacy of extraordinary intellect, boundless generosity, and a depth of compassion that touched everyone fortunate enough to know him.

Tim was born on June 5, 1946, in East Chicago, Indiana, to William Raykovich and Josephine (Bien) Raykovich. He is survived by his devoted wife of 30 years, Donna Vega Raykovich, who remained lovingly by his side throughout his illness; his sons, Tim and Sam Raykovich; his sister, Linda (Raykovich) Skafish and her husband, Peter Skafish; his nephew, Peter Skafish; his niece, Elizabeth Skafish and her husband, Jimmy Pruitt; and his great-nephew, Lyon. He is also survived by his brother in-law and sister-in-law, Ted and Marlene (Vega) Coulis.

Tim graduated from Gavit High School in 1964 as a proud member of its very first graduating class. He went on to earn a B.S. in Chemistry from St. Joseph’s College in Rensselaer, Indiana in 1968 – where he also founded the college’s radio station and served as Student Body President during his senior year. In 1973, he received his MD from Indiana University School of Medicine in Indianapolis, subsequently completing a residency in Internal Medicine in 1976 and earning an MS in Public Health in 1977.

Tim’s intellectual curiosity knew no bounds. Drawn to sanitation engineering through summers and weekends working at the East Chicago Sanitary District, he pursued and earned a degree in that field alongside his medical training – and later added a degree in Electrical Engineering as well. His breadth of expertise was, by any measure, extraordinary.

His professional life was equally wide-ranging. In 1977, Tim began practicing medicine at St. Catherine’s Hospital in East Chicago, where he also served on the hospital’s board and directed the ICU for more than a decade. And for 30 years thereafter, Tim served as East Chicago’s Health Commissioner.

He was on staff at the Whiting Clinic, served as a hospitalist at Munster Community Hospital, a physician with Ignite Medical Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Facility – all while simultaneously giving generously of his time to numerous projects for the Lake County Government Center.

In 1980, Tim co-founded Cenifax, Inc. alongside a colleague and remained its proud owner until the time of his passing. Under his leadership, Cenifax grew into a respected IT and facilities management company specializing in data processing and software solutions for government agencies and the courts. Over the decades, he guided the company in analyzing, designing, programming, and installing custom systems for municipalities across the region – bringing the same hands-on dedication to Cenifax that he brought to everything he did.

Of Tim’s many achievements, his key role in bringing the federal Healthy Start Initiative to Lake County was one that made him most proud. In 1991, when only 15 grants were awarded nationally, Tim wrote the grant that secured one which was designated for Lake County – a lasting contribution to the health of the community he called home. He also served as assistant to the Mayor of East Chicago.

Tim was widely admired for his deep kindness, his compassionate bedside manner, and his remarkable command of medicine, electrical systems, and civil and urban planning, among many other fields. As an avid and voracious reader, he had a lifelong passion for learning and was forever making himself available to the many people who turned to him for guidance, advice, or simply a thoughtful conversation.

But above all else, Tim loved Donna, Timmy, and Sammy with his whole heart. He often said that had he known the joy of being a father, he would have started much sooner. That love -unwavering, wholehearted, and abundantly given – was the defining joy of his life.

Tim will be profoundly missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him. As his dear friend Dr. Nabil Shabeeb said: “He was a gentle hearted genius in medicine, engineering and computer science. It’s a great loss to lose someone like Tim.”

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Tim’s memory to the following organizations that share his commitment to providing care and support to others.