Couple found dead in Aruba lived in Wilmette, owned nearby gym and cafe

Aruba police are investigating the tragic deaths of a Wilmette couple who were found dead over the weekend.

The Aruba Police Force, or Korps Politie Aruba, posted on social media that at 8:44 a.m. Jan. 4 it responded to the St. Regis Hotel on Palm Beach in Noord, Aruba, and discovered a man who reportedly had fallen from a top floor and died.

During the preliminary investigation, police found a woman in the man’s hotel room who was also dead.

Police told other media outlets, including the Chicago Sun-Times, that the incident is being investigated as a murder-suicide. The police force has not returned messages from The Record.

In a separate social media post, Aruba police identified the deceased as B. Jozic, 45, and C. Jozic, 52, which according to local sources and social media activity refers to Boris and Cristina Gatia Jozic, a couple who lived in a townhome in Wilmette, according to neighbors and property records.

The pair also owned Steel Fitness Club and Steel Fitness Cafe in Morton Grove, according to Village of Morton Grove records. Impromptu memorials featuring flowers, photos and messages were set up inside and out of Steel Fitness, 5814 Dempster St., as of Wednesday, Jan. 7.

A Facebook account under “Boris Cristina Jozic” — which lists the page owners as Wilmette residents and owners of Steel Fitness Club — most recently published a post on Jan. 1 that includes photos of the couple in Aruba, according to the post’s caption.

Gatia also owned and operated Healthy Donut Co, a year-old company that makes high-protein, low-sugar doughnuts.

A tribute to Gatia posted on the company’s Instagram page Jan. 6 says, “Our hearts are shattered, and our family is grieving deeply.

“As we begin to navigate this heartbreaking loss, we are incredibly grateful for the love, prayers, and support we’ve received, and we kindly ask for time, privacy, and grace as we grieve together as a family.”

A GoFundMe in Gatia’s honor has raised more than $35,000 as of press time (Jan. 8).

The fundraiser’s webpage says Gatia was a mother of five, as well as a grandmother, sister, aunt and “dear friend to so many.”

“She poured her heart into her family and was deeply passionate about health and fitness, always encouraging others to become the best version of themselves,” the webpage says. “Whether as a mother, mentor, or friend, Cristina showed up with love, strength, and compassion.”

The fundraiser was started by Gatia’s daughter-in-law, Vera Jovanovic, and says the proceeds will go to Cristina’s daughter, Tricia Gatia, for funeral expenses and other memorial arrangements.

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